Over 1,000 participants joined the fight to save lives through early detection by taking to the streets for the Check It Out Challenge presented by Hadassah of Greater Baltimore on Sunday, August 3 at Baltimore's Inner Harbor, Rash Field. As a part of the Charm City Run Distance Challenge, a series of road races leading up to the Baltimore Marathon, runners participated in the new 10K Race alongside individuals, families, and teams who came out for the 6th annual 5K Run/Walk and the 1.5 Mile Fun Walk. Thanks to their efforts and sponsorships from American Radiology Services, Inc., Kaiser Permanente, LifeBridge Health, Mercantile Safe Deposit, McCormick & Company, Inc., Safeway, Surgical Specialists, Comcast, WB Channel 54, WYPR, and Patuxent Publishing, a total of $90,000 was raised according to Race Co- Chair, Leslie Goldberg. "Each year the Check It Out Challenge seems to grow. The community response is overwhelming. We exceeded all financial and participation goals!" says Goldberg. "These funds are vital to the continuation of Hadassah's award-winning Check It Out Program, providing education about breast, testicular, and prostate cancer throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area."

Particular mention must be made of the Fried family who fielded the largest group - 75 participants - and raised in excess of $1,500. Hadassah of Greater Baltimore President, Laurie Weitz, adds, "A very special thank you to all of the participants and more than 150 volunteers that helped make this race the most successful ever."

Serving as Mistress of Ceremonies, Kendel Erlich, wife of Governor Bob Erlich announced the following race winners:

10K Race:
Div 
Place	Men	        Time	Women	         Time	 Div Age Cat
====================================================================
1	Kelly Dayton	49:33	Alee Pagnotti	   57:47 15 and Under
2	Nir Harouche	50:54 	Ellie Payton	 1:00:02 15 and Under
3	Ben Feldman	56:20 			         15 and Under
1	Dustin Bauer	37:46 	Rebecca Feldman	 1:01:11 16 - 19
2	Josh Eikenberg	40:08 			         16 - 19
3	Kevin Burdinski	44:40 			         16 - 19
1	Justin Scott	37:41 	Laura Nappa	   47:03 20 - 29 
2	Matthew Seybold	38:51 	Aaleya Koreishi	   47:36 20 - 29 
3	Frank Delosso	43:15 	Christine Hutt	   48:04 20 - 29 
1	Eric Estrada	32:10 	Paige Waterman	   44:27 30 - 39
2	Glen Mays	34:00 	Kristen Mears	   46:37 30 - 39
3	Chris Conboy	35:53 	Alica White	   47:09 30 - 39
1	Ted Poulos	35:51 	Kathy Schaffer	   50:13 40 - 49
2	Maurice Pointer	36:25 	Nancy Doran	   53:56 40 - 49
3	Fin Mears	38:41 	Kayla Mariner	   54:53 40 - 49
1	Malcolm Senior	41:31 	Natalie Vaslavsry  52:11 50 - 59
2	Allan Conn	45:32 	Kathleen Schaub	   59:18 50 - 59
3	Patrick Malloy	46:04 	Bev Harvey	   59:28 50 - 59
1	Nick Delambo	50:21 			         60 and Over
2	Chet Coates	50:30 			         60 and Over
3	Mike Baziz	53:30 			         60 and Over



5K Race:
Div
Place   Men	            Time	Women	          Time	  Div Age Cat
==============================================================================
1	Lieutenant Robinson 20:03	Amy Morlock	   20:54  15 and Under
2	Delvaughn Rooks	    20:07	Brittney Rooks	   22:45  15 and Under
3	Michael Warm	    21:29	Becky Asher	   26:14  15 and Under
1	Emil Bojanov	    16:54	Lindsay Morrell	   22:17  16 - 19
2	Ray Vickery	    17:40	Rebecca Chinsky	   26:00  16 - 19
3	Matt Klaschus	    17:58	Dori Grossman	   26:35  16 - 19
1	Jason Ream	    16:47	Sherry Esposito	   18:42  20 - 29 
2	Justin Gassman	    17:41	Gretchen Schuller  19:35  20 - 29 
3	Chad Boyle	    18:03	Becky Alvarez	   19:50  20 - 29 
1	Glen Mays	    15:55	Robyn Humprey	   19:31  30 - 39
2	Doug Prox	    20:02	Katie Aman	   21:47  30 - 39
3	Marc Burger	    20:22	Candice Richardson 23:10  30 - 39
1	Neville Anderson    16:34	Julie Caprio	   20:58  40 - 49
2	Ted Poulos	    18:21	Lynda Layson	   21:26  40 - 49
3	Henry Peck	    20:01	Cheryl Hendricks   24:00  40 - 49
1	Wilson Truhenet	    20:17	Barbara Levin	   31:59  50 - 59
2	Edward Lecates	    20:39	Mary Gliva	   35:23  50 - 59
3	John Buck	    22:18	Linda Freud	   36:37  50 - 59
1	Stan Neumann	    21:52	Ann Kress	   30:16  60 and Over
2	Milton Swan	    25:12	Pat David	   37:32  60 and Over
3	Leonard Redmond	    26:34	Belle Agronin	   43:18  60 and Over

For the past 9 years, Hadassah of Greater Baltimore has sponsored community-wide, grassroots education programs on breast, testicular, and prostate cancer. Designed primarily for 11th and 12th grade girls, the Check It Out Breast Cancer Awareness program focuses on the importance of self-examination as a means of early breast cancer detection. This lifesaving program, facilitated by cancer survivors and health educators, empowers young women to practice early detection and share this vital information with their families and friends. It has currently reached more that 75,000 young Baltimore-area women through their schools.

The Check It Out Testicular Cancer Awareness program uses the same approach to reach young men in 11th and 12th grades. According to Patricia Brownlee, Baltimore City Public School System Curriculum Specialist, "In my experience Check It Out is the only one-hour program that demonstrates a true impact on the lifelong health promotion behavior of young men and women. Hadassah of Greater Baltimore, through the persistence and integrity of its members, has raised the comfort level of the 11th and 12th grade students by encouraging them to know their bodies through self examination."

This Fall, Hadassah of Greater Baltimore will launch another expansion component to our youth-based Check It Out health program. Responding to requests from the school systems, parents and physicians on the Hadassah of Greater Baltimore Medical Advisory Board, the new initiative addresses young people and their parents about body satisfaction issues, such as self-image, peer pressure, media influence, nutrition, physical and mental health, and eating disorders. Planned are a combination of PTA-based seminars; community-wide symposia; parent-child interactive events; and Girls on the Run, an elementary and middle school fitness, team-building and community service program targeted to help young women establish healthier habits and body image, a stronger sense of empowerment and self-acceptance, and a commitment to community involvement.

Hadassah is the largest volunteer women's organization in the United States. As part of its worldwide commitment to research, health education and healing, the Check It Out programs are dedicated to empower all people, without discrimination to race, religion, nationality or age to be responsible for their own bodies.

Until cures for these potentially fatal diseases are found, the need for education about early detection is critical. Plans are already underway for next year's Check It Out Challenge to be held on August 1, 2004. In addition to the Check It Out Challenge and our youth-based programs, Hadassah has expanded its Check It Out Programs to include prostate cancer and extended the program to adults throughout Greater Baltimore. Schools or companies interested in scheduling a Check It Out Program, learning more about the new Body Image effort, or individuals interested in supporting these community health initiatives, should call the Hadassah office at (410) 484-9590.

Photo above: Laurie Weitz, President, Hadassah of Greater Baltimore; Leslie Goldberg, Race Co-Chair; Kendel Erlich; Lynn Bogash, Race Co-Chair; Ellen Sachs, Race Logistics Chair.

View complete results of this race by visiting our Results Page.