Penn Staters to participate in Boston Marathon to help the medically uninsured

More the 15 Penn Staters, under the guidance of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, will compete in the Boston Marathon to raise money for the medically uninsured in the Centre Region.

University Park, Pa. -- More than 15 Penn State employees, students and alumni, with the help of a certain legendary Nittany Lion football coach, will be participating as a team in the 2005 Boston Marathon to help out a charitable cause: supporting those in the Centre Region without access to affordable health insurance.

Now in its third year, Centre Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) raises money for the medically uninsured through the CVIM Boston Marathon Challenge. After a successful fund-raising effort last year, the goal for this year’s challenge is to raise more than $15,000. With the help of the Nittany Valley Running Club, the Penn State contingent will comprise both a men’s and women’s team, as well as a master’s team.

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has signed on as the team’s honorary head coach. He will be helped in leading the effort by Sue Paterno, who will serve as the honorary women’s coach, and local track and field Olympian Greg Fredericks, who will serve as the honorary men’s coach.

Members of the CVIM Boston Marathon Challenge team are: Tom Cali, Ken Davis, John Domico, Mark Fedkin, Kim Gasper, Susan Gillmor, Nate Harkins, Randy Jepson, Megan Kiczek, Marty Klanchar, Elizabeth Larimar, Monika Modest, Jim Moran, Matt Newcomb, Mike Sullivan, Alison Ventura, Morgan Wasikonis, Erin Wyble and Kendra Yoder.

The 2005 Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 18.

CVIM offers free medical care to working yet medically uninsured people in the region. The organization supports those who make too much money to qualify for state or federal assistance, yet earn so little that they cannot afford even the most basic medical services for themselves and their families.

For more information about Centre Volunteers in Medicine, visit http://cvim.net/web/bostonmarathon.html