Kickoff Event at The Riverview Celebrates Westchester/Rockland Walk4Hearing

On April 12, 2015, Westchester and Rockland volunteers, supporters and friends gathered to celebrate the Kickoff Event for the Hearing Loss Association of America’s (HLAA) 10th annual Westchester/Rockland Walk4Hearing, which will take place on Saturday, May 16th in FDR State Park. At the Kickoff Event, held at The Riverview in Hastings-on-Hudson, over 100 guests enjoyed an afternoon of refreshments and conversation followed by presentations to motivate and instruct team leaders, supporters and walkers.

Westchester/Rockland Walk4Hearing Chair David Goldwasser welcomed guests and thanked the attendees for their dedication and support. “A vast majority of Americans with hearing loss do not receive the help they need,” said Mr. Goldwasser, “Changing this is HLAA’s mission, why we have the Walk4Hearing and why we invite everyone, hearing and hearing-impaired, to walk with us.”

Otis Livingston, Sports Anchor for WCBS-TV and emcee for the Walk4Hearing Kickoff Event, introduced the speakers and guests. Christine Russo-Mayer AU.D.,CCC/A, NYS Audiologist and founder of CRM Audiology in White Plains, received the Westchester HLAA 2015 Health Hero of the Year Award for her outstanding contributions to the medical and local communities. Speakers also included Laura Mrugalski, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Therapist of the New York School for the Deaf and Walk4Hearing Team Fanwood Leader; Alicen Noselli, a former HLAA Westchester Chapter College Scholarship recipient; and Ellen Miller, mother of a scholarship recipient.

“Being the parent of a child with hearing loss is a challenging road filled with tears of joy and tears of sadness,” said Ms. Miller. “Thank you, Westchester HLAA and the Walk4Hearing, for making this long journey possible.”

The Westchester/Rockland Walk4Hearing raises awareness of the challenges facing 48 million Americans with hearing loss and their families. The event provides education about hearing loss, helps erase the stigma associated with it, and raises funds for programs and services.

The Walk will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2015 in FDR State Park at 2957 Crompond Road in Yorktown Heights, NY and follows a 5k (3.1-mile) route. Walk festivities feature children’s activities, state-of-the-art technology including captioned announcements via smartphones, giveaways, refreshments, prizes, and more. Registration and pre-walk activities begin at 10 am and the Walk starts at 11 am. For more information and to pre-register, visit www.walk4hearing.org.

The Westchester/Rockland Walk4Hearing is one of 21 events happening across the nation this year. Since its launch in 2006, the Walk4Hearing series has steadily gained momentum by raising more than $9 million, and welcoming more than 58,000 walkers. It is the nation’s largest and fastest growing hearing loss fundraising and public awareness walk in the country.