To celebrate National Better Hearing & Speech Month in May, the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) will hold its seventh 5K (3.1 mile) Westchester/Rockland Walk4Hearing® at Mercy College on Saturday, May 18 at 10:30 am.
In recognition of the importance of the 2013 Walk, Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino has proclaimed May 18 to be “Walk4Hearing Day.” Mayor Brian Smith of Irvington, N.Y. will cut the ceremonial ribbon to start the event.
The Walk4Hearing is one of 22 nationally coordinated walkathons that serve to increase awareness of and raise funds for critical programs and support services for the estimated 36 million Americans—or about one in 10 people—who suffer from hearing loss.
Westchester/Rockland Walk4Hearing Co-Chair and Irvington resident Steve Wolfert stated, “Many people in our area can benefit from learning where to find appropriate assistive listening devices, employment resources, insurance reimbursement and government aid, educational information and other programs.”
The Walk will feature hundreds of walkers from Westchester and Rockland Counties, New York City, Long Island and New Jersey; information tables staffed by hearing professionals and equipment manufacturers; free food and entertainment; and a children’s tent with games, face painting, magic tricks and clowns. Captioning (CART) services and a sign language interpreter will be available for the opening ceremony, as well as direct captioning on attendees’ smart phones.
“Mercy College’s Speech and Hearing Center has provided services to people in the community for more than 25 years. We are pleased to be part of the national and local movements to help bring awareness to hearing loss and to partner with this outstanding organization to host the 2013 Westchester/Rockland Walk4Hearing,” said Gloria Schlisselberg, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Director of Mercy College Speech and Hearing Center.
To date, Walk4Hearing has raised $6 million nationally to provide a wide range of information, advocacy and support services for people of all ages with hearing loss. Local organizations that have benefited from the Walk4Hearing include the New York School for the Deaf (White Plains), Lions Club Hearing Program, Center for Hearing and Communications (New York City), Canines for Kids, St. Joseph College audiology scholarships, Broadway's Theatre Development Fund (TDF) captioning access program, and the Blair and Anita Mazin College Scholarship Fund.
To become a walker or team captain, an event sponsor, or to obtain more information on how to join HLAA, go to www.walk4hearing.org or e-mail swolfert@optonline.net.
