Walk For A Cause
Friendship Circle's sixth annual walk raises spirits, funds and awareness.
A
n estimated 4,500 people participated in Friendship Circle's sixth
annual Walk4Friendship on Sept. 4 in West Bloomfield. Walkers began
on the Friendship Circle campus in West Bloomfield and ended their
trek at the nearby Jewish Community Center.
A highlight of the event was Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham, 19, a wheelchair
athlete who was born with spina bifida. Confined to a wheelchair at age 8, he
is a Freestyle BMX (bicycle motocross) champion. In addition to performing
skateboarding-type moves on his wheelchair, he also gave an inspirational talk
before the walk.
Thousands of walkers participated in the sixth
At the JCC, participants enjoyed a free carnival and a hearty lunch.
The event, supported by numerous corporate sponsors, benefits the nonprofit
Friendship Circle, which provides individuals with special needs an opportunity
to learn real-life skills in its Weinberg Village and to create meaningful relation-
ships with teen and adult volunteers.
This year, Walk4Friendship raised $455,915 — and still counting. Top fundrais-
ers were Joel and Debbie Pearlman, Claire Kahn, Neil Weissman, Michael Weiss
and Gary Karp. Top teams were Pearlman/Image One, One Step at a Time/Summit
Sports, Fringe Salon for Friendship, Team Weissman and M. Jacob Joggers. I I
Members of Fisher AZA formed a walking team.
annual Walk4Friendship in West Bloomfield.
Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham shows off some of
Members of Team Bechman, headed by Chuck and
his championship freestyle BMX moves.
Marlowe Bechman of West Bloomfield, pause for photo.
JFS Says Thanks
Friendship Circle founders Rabbi Levi and Bassi Shemtov
accept a proclamation from U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, center.
Inity 'vo u. tiers and mentors
Children enjoy the giant bubble inflatable.
I un-
0
n Sunday, Aug. 28, Jewish Family
Service (JFS) sponsored a thank-
you picnic for volunteers and
Mentor Connection mentors at Springdale
Park in Birmingham. More than 100
people attended this fun-filled day with
moonwalks, face painting, water balloons,
caricature artists, games and great food.
Each day, JFS volunteers have a positive
impact on community members through
a variety of programs. To learn about
JFS volunteer opportunities, call Lindsay
Leder at (248) 592-2309; for mentor
opportunities, contact Alison Orley at
(248) 592-2317.
Amanda Warner of Farmington Hills, of the
Mentor Connection event committee
Richard Cherkasky of Franklin and
Max of West Bloomfield
Micki Grossman of Farmington Hills and Ali
of Livonia
September 15 ., 2011
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