Somerset Hills Volunteers, Participants Ready for Miles for Matheny

Nancy Hojnacki of Bernardsville and her husband, Walter, are planning to be at Miles for Matheny fundraiser in downtown Peapack-Gladstone as usual this year as the event kicks off its 16th year.

"How could I not get involved?" asked Hojnacki, who said she also is on the Friends of Matheny board. The Friends organization provides support to the Matheny Medical and Educational Center in Peapack-Gladstone, which serves developmentally disabled adults and children with medically complex conditions.

Miles for Matheny kicks off with 8:30 a.m. registration this year before biking, running and a kids fun run event, leading up to the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk at 1 p.m., when patients from Matheny and friends and family walk through the downtown.

That walk was the seed of the event, when the late Lu Huggins of Basking Ridge came up with the idea that the patients in the community should be able to get out and enjoy their community.

"It's a wonderful day," Hojnacki said. She said she typically is part of providing the Breakfast of Champions for the participating athletes as the day begins. Volunteers provide the breakfast, as well as serving, she said.

She said she loves to see the wheelchair walk. "Their faces all all aglow when they're being pushed," Hojnacki said of the participants from Matheny.

This year her husband, who also volunteers on a regular basis, will be distributing t-shirts.

And as usual, Matheny patient Bryan Desatnick of Basking Ridge will be participating with his family. Bryan's father Lloyd will be at Miles, and Team Bryan, so far has raised $2,110 for the fundraiser, said Sandy Josephson, spokesman for Matheny.

Several volunteers also will return from Affinity Federal Credit Union, based in Basking Ridge, including the Bedminster Branch, Josephson said.

Affinity Federal Credit Union also is returning as this year's entertainment sponsor for the event.

Nancy Cruse of Bedminster, whose son is at Matheny, will be part of the volunteer contingent serving the Breakfast of Champions, he added.

Bernards High students Jordan and Courtney Smith of Bedminster and Jamie Moschetto of Peapack will do facepainting during the period prior to the start of the Wheelchair Walk, Josephson added.

The Bonnie Brae band from the Bonnie Brae Educational Center in Bernards Township will be there, "of course," he said.

For more information or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org.