On Oct. 25, I attended a breast cancer awareness walk/wheel-a-thon in Whitestone, organized by the Queens Center for Rehabilitation. Gayle Kirschenbaum and Dan Muskin of the center invited me to join in as a past resident, since I recently recuperated there from a broken leg.
The event was outstanding. Just to be there and see dozens of residents take to 19th Avenue in wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and canes was an incredible sight. They were assisted by aides from the center to assure safety. The center staff made sure the event had the atmosphere of a festive block party, complete with a disc jockey, balloons and refreshments.
Local establishments donated prizes to be raffled off and Pro-Tek Physical Therapy, a local company, provided a table with one of their staff members giving out bottles of water.
Certainly this was not the biggest, most publicized breast cancer awareness event in the city, but taking into consideration who the participants were, I am proud to have participated. When the walk kicked off to the sound of the “Rocky” theme, you could feel this was truly a special event.
Thank you, Gayle and Dan.
Rich Pokorny
Bayside
