For Immediate Release
Contact: Derek T. Berry
Ph: 202.877.1975
Media Relations Manager
Derek.T.Berry@medstar.net
Washington, D.C. – October 19, 2011 - The 8th Annual Super H 5K Run, Walk & Wheel, benefiting National Rehabilitation Hospital’s (NRH) adaptive sports for those with disabilities, continues to be a success, with roughly 300 participants and raising more than $35,000. In the past eight years, the event has raised over $235,000 to support NRH adaptive sports, such as wheelchair basketball, soccer, quad rugby, sled hockey, hand cycling and more.
The race took place on Sunday, September 25, 2011, at Sport & Health Club in McLean, VA. The Super H 5K was originally organized in 2004 by the wife, children and friends of Harry Freedman, an accomplished athlete who lost his leg in a worksite accident. The original purpose of the race was to benefit Harry – Super ‘H’ himself – with a state-of-the-art sport prosthetic leg. The event has gained national attention and grown into the Super H 5K Run, Walk & Wheel, a physical feat open to those of quite diverse abilities – runners, walkers, hand cyclists, moms pushing strollers, and those punching the rims of sleek, aerodynamic racing wheelchairs.
“So many people were there to help me in rebuilding my life,” says Freedman. “I want them to know how important it was to me, and we want to make sure there is someone there to help the children who need us now.”
Today, the event continues to raise substantial funds for the NRH adaptive sports programs for those in the community and for the NRH/USOC sports programs for wounded veterans through Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The Super H race enables NRH’s adaptive sports teams to host regular clinics to open the world of sports to individuals with disabilities.
The Super H 5K Run, Walk & Wheel drew in major sponsors again this year including The Hartford, streetsense, Darren Starr Productions, Washington Express, Tri Union Express and many more. Chicken Out Rotisserie and Whole Foods donated food for all participants and volunteers to enjoy during the party following the race.
The list of top finishers in this year’s race includes:
- Top adult & overall male finisher: Ben Cook, McLean, VA – time of 17:42
- Top overall female & youth finisher: Elizabeth Long, Sterling, VA – time of 20:25
- Top adult female finisher: Monique Rico, Chantilly, VA – time of 21:25
- Top Handcyclist (child): Desmond Brooks, Waldorf, MD – time of 21:20
- Top Wheelchair finisher: Anthony Capella, W. McLean, VA – 31:09
Just because the Super H 5K for 2011 is over, doesn’t mean you can’t still get involved, especially if you have a disability or know someone who is disabled and wants to stay active. To learn more, log on to nrhrehab.org.
Incidentally, next year’s Super H 5K Run, Walk & Wheel is slated to take place on Sunday, September 23, 2012.
Click here to view photos of Super H 5K Run, Walk & Wheel 2011.
National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) is a private, not-for-profit facility with 137 beds located in Northwest Washington, D.C. NRH’s services are designed specifically for the rehabilitation of individuals with disabling injuries and illnesses such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury and disease, arthritis, amputations, post-polio syndrome, chronic pain, back and neck pain, occupational injuries, cancer and cardiac disease that require medical rehabilitation, and other neurological and orthopedic conditions. Annually, NRH admits approximately 2,200 inpatients and provides over 350,000 ambulatory visits at 30-plus NRH Regional Rehab outpatient sites located in Washington, D.C., Suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia. We treat patients from the age of 6 and up and our pediatric unit — the National Center for Children’s Rehabilitation at NRH — is a joint service of NRH and Children’s National Medical Center.
NRH is consistently ranked by physicians in U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 15 rehabilitation hospitals in America. It is also ranked by U.S. News as the 4th best hospital overall in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. NRH is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and by CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. NRH has CARF accredited specialty programs for Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury and Stroke. NRH is a proud member of MedStar Health, parent company to Franklin Square Hospital, Georgetown University Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, Harbor Hospital, Montgomery General Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, Union Memorial Hospital, Washington Hospital Center, and the Visiting Nurses Association. For more on NRH, log on to nrhrehab.org.