Community Corner

'Go the Distance' Draws a Crowd at Maria Fareri

The ninth-annual Go the Distance walk at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center

The ninth annual Go the Distance walk drew a sea of pedestrians Sunday morning, as people came from around the region to support Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center.

The walk, held on the Valhalla hospital’s grounds, is a key fundraiser for Maria Fareri.

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“We use this event as one of our largest fundraisers because we continue to need community support to help the hospital grow and take care of all the needs of the children of the Hudson Valley,” said Dr. Michael Gewitz, the children’s hospital’s physician in chief.

There were thousands of people, said Andy LaGuardia, Maria Fareri’s director of communications. More than 100 teams were reported to have been involved. The team each raise money for the walk.

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For people in attendance, personal experiences inspired them to be there.

“I want to give back what they gave to us,” said Dan Ferretti, a Mahopac resident whose daughter Jamie was this year’s Grand Marshall and led the walk.

Jamie Ferretti, a student at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Yorktown, was joined by her classmates and faculty from the school. Jamie was operated on at Maria Fareri in January 2012 when a brain tumor was removed. She did not require any chemotherapy or radiation and her follow-up checks have been good.

Jamie’s mother, Deb, said that the hospital saved her daughter’s life, “and there's nothing we wouldn't do to give back to the hospital and this was a great day,” she said.

The family plans to return next year.

The walk includes several people who have returned for multiple years.

Brooklyn Benedikt, a 7-year-old girl from the Crestwood section of Yonkers, was last year’s grand marshall and was present Sunday with her mother, Andrea, who was asked what inspired her to come. Andrea Benedikt answered that it is because in 2010 her daughter was operated on to treat a hole found in her heart, “and so every year we show up and we give back to the hospital that we love.”

Rene Lemieux, who is from Yorktown and now lives in LaGrange, comes every year in honor of his son, Tyler, who died from a congenital defect soon after his 2004 birth. Part of “Team Tyler,” Lemieux recalls that his son was transferred to the hospital for treatment. Lemieux describes showing up as a way to give back to the hospital.

Dr. Michael Tobias, who led a team that performed surgery on Jamie Ferretti, said the event is “great for a lot of reasons.” He cited being able to honor Jamie and her family and to celebrate how she is doing. Tobias also noted the role of hospital staff in making people’s lives better.

Annie Gevertz, a student at Scarsdale High School, came with several of her classmates and was in one of the teams. She has been doing to the walk for several years.

“It's really nice,” she said, adding that it is “well supported.”

Several organizations from around the area had presences at the event.

David DeMilia, whose daughter, Grace was born at the hospital in 2007 and was delivered three months early, noted that she had several surgeries and is doing great now. A Yorktown resident, DeMilia came with his family as part of the Mahopac National Bank group.

Liz Crecco, who works at WeeZee in Chappaqua, stated the benefits of her organization for kids to have fun.

“Because WeeZee World helps kids have a great time and enjoy themselves and this is a terrific event to remind everybody to come to WeeZee to help their kids get stronger, faster, smarter and have a great social life.”

The hospital is named after Maria Fareri, a 13-year-old girl who was treated for rabies in 1995 at Westchester Medical Center and passed away. It is also the first in the country to be named after a child. Her parents, John and Brenda Fareri, were on hand for the start of the race. Next year, 2014, will be the 10th anniversary of the walk.


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