By Michele Salomon
Congregation Keneseth Israel

Reading, writing and arithmetic are what schools are all about.  Thanks to KI member, Patricia (Choty) San Andres, school is also about running and a way to use her passion to spark support for the students at Central Elementary School in Allentown. 

It didn’t start out that way. It was only a few years ago when Choty started running. At the beginning it was learning the sport: the first 5K, the first 10K, the first half-marathon, the right shoes, the right shorts, the right hair band. Over time, it grew into a personal commitment to run 50 individual, timed 5K races before turning 50. As Choty logged her miles and tallied up her races, near and far, it became obvious that the 50th race to fulfill her goal and celebrate her 50th birthday needed to be celebratory and beneficial. 

Choty partnered with Keneseth Israel, already a community partner for Central Elementary School, to organize the Harvest 5K, the proceeds of which will benefit the students and families at Central Elementary School. Central’s population is largely poor, many are homeless and they have limited resources. Monies the race can provide will be put to good use. 

As important as the financial support to Central Elementary will be, Choty is also teaching lessons about determination, commitment, motivation, inspiration and hard work.  She hopes that the students and other participants find ways, in their own lives, to fulfill their dreams and achieve their goals. 

Choty and KI invite the community to join in the Harvest 5K weekend and welcome in Sukkot beginning with a spaghetti dinner at KI on Saturday evening, Sept. 26.  On Sunday, Sept. 27 at 3 p.m. the Harvest 5K will begin (registration is at 1 p.m.) in Lehigh Parkway. 

You can follow Choty at her blog here. And be sure to wish Choty a Happy Birthday, the big day is Sept. 30.   

To register for the Harvest 5K, visit www.harvest5krun.com.