8 Kilometers + 55 Communities = $1,250 for Susan G. Komen
ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY HOMEOWNERS AND STAFF TEAM UP FOR CHARITY AND THEIR OWN HEALTH
Mechanicsburg, PA – November 21, 2011 – Three fifty-something women and one man from the greater Harrisburg area were among the 25,000 runners racing in the Philadelphia Marathon Rothman 8K this Saturday, running for charity, personal achievement and their own health. The four were part of a team sponsored by Traditions of America – Pennsylvania’s leading developer of 55 and over communities – that inspired a $1,250 donation to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
“I figured, why not? I’m retired and this would be a health benefit to me,” said runner Kay Bartlett, a homeowner at Traditions of America at Silver Spring (www.toasilverspring.com), the leading 55 and over community in Greater Harrisburg. Bartlett had never run before. But when Lifestyle Director Karen Karkuff approached her, Bartlett figured it was the “best opportunity at the best time of my life.”
While 58-year-old Bartlett joined for the camaraderie, she soon found another benefit. She lost a total of 15 pounds while training for the 8K “I haven’t been at this weight since I was in my 30s. My husband feels like he has a new woman as a wife!” (Husband Rod ran along with his “new woman” this weekend and she beat his time by 3 minutes.)
Bartlett is pre-diabetic and says her doctor also is thrilled. Ironically, before retiring she worked for the Pennsylvania state government in the Department of Health but “I sat at a desk all day. I was not as active as I am now! It’s amazing what retirement can do for you.”
Neighbor Pam Minhas, on the other hand, was a runner for years – until she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. “It was a few miles every day,” said Minhas but once treatments started her fitness routine was just one of the major changes in her life.
“Once I got sick, it made us look at our priorities,” said the 48-year-old Minhas. She and her partner had two homes and two jobs and now a full-time battle with cancer. They decided that housework was out and health was in, throwing away their snow shovel and moving to Traditions of America at Silver Spring. Minhas said another big benefit of the community was the fitness amenities: a full gym at the clubhouse plus a pool.
Despite just finishing treatments in the spring, Minhas jumped at the chance to join the Traditions team for the 8K. Neighbors have been very encouraging. “Some will stop and roll down their window and give me a high five.”
Minhas’ goals for the 8K were to run the whole way and if possible, finish in under an hour. (Her final time: 58 minutes, 55 seconds.) A nice side effect of her training was losing 15 pounds, the same amount as Bartlett. The donation Traditions made to Susan G. Komen in her name and that of the other runners was icing on the cake. “I think that is incredible. That’s not why I did it – any day I can run is a good day. But what a bonus! It was quite generous.”
The ringleader at Silver Spring was Karen Karkuff, a Lifestyle Director who has worked at the greater Harrisburg community since 2009. Karkuff is 56 and had never run before she turned 50. All three of her children ran track and field in high school. “I’d tell them ‘you can run faster than that’ and they responded ‘let’s see you do it.’” So she gave running a try. “If they could run 3 miles, I could run 3 miles.”
“I don’t consider myself a runner. I find it an easy way to get in exercise while I’m working a 40-hour week,” said Karkuff. As Lifestyle Director, she is responsible for creating opportunities for healthy living for homeowners. Joining the Traditions 8K team was a new opportunity for Karkuff, as well, a little longer than her usual route. She finished in 50 minutes and 52 seconds which put her in perfect position to cheer on her fellow racers as they crossed the finish line.
“We were honored to support all the runners from our Harrisburg community as well as the seven others who raced as Team Traditions this weekend,” said Nathan Jameson, Director of Operations. “Each one shows us how you’re never too old to find ways to live better and healthier lives.”
Traditions of America is based in Radnor, Pennsylvania focused on the development of award winning Lifestyle Communities and building the finest maintenance free homes for people age 55 and better. Nationally recognized as a leader in this growing industry, the firm has built retirement communities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware for 20 years.
