On May 18, 2012, the YMCA of Centre County held a “Lunchtime Walk” in memory of Jan Gearhart (1955-2011), a long-time employee and friend of the YMCA. Jan walked every day during her lunch break in the neighborhoods near the State College YMCA. On May 18, nearly 60 people gathered to walk together on the route that Jan did countless times, to honor her memory and raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. In addition to the walk, there was a complimentary lunch sponsored by Marty Bradley, and memories and information shared by representatives from Mount Nittany Medical Center, as well as Jan’s family members. The Lunchtime Walk raised over $1,800 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Going forward, the Lunchtime Walk will be an annual event each spring.

At the conclusion of the May 18 event, the “Community Connection Area” of the State College YMCA’s lobby was dedicated in memory of Jan Gearhart. The Community Connection Area was made possible by memorial donations made to the YMCA by Jan’s family and friends. The YMCA thanks everyone who supported the Lunchtime Walk for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, as well as those who donated to the YMCA in memory of Jan Gearhart.

“…Volunteering hasn’t only given me the opportunity to improve the community, but it has given me the chance to improve myself. I have grown so much in the past few years. I have made so many friends and connections through volunteering. Being a part of Leaders Club has given me a second family, friends, and a purpose.

Aside from doing a lot of volunteering, of late I have been doing a lot of exercise. Going to the YMCA has been a part of my daily ritual for the past 5 1/2 months. I used to be unable to run more than 3 minutes straight and the thought of doing push ups made me cringe. Now, after having lost 25 pounds and running 3 and a half miles for enjoyment, I see all the the YMCA has to offer. Where I am today, this very spot that I stand, and how I feel, is something that I thank the YMCA for everyday.”

- Y Teen Member 

Y Story of the Week

Being in Leaders Club to myself as an individual means a lot. It is something I always look forward to. I am very artsy and am involved in theater so I have a “group” of friends. Leaders allows me to have a variety of friends, all of whom I love. I have gained so many friendships that it is impossible to imagine. I have grown so close to everyone that I look forward to seeing everybody’s smiling faces each Monday.

-A Y Teen Member

“I have worked at the Y for two years and I am constantly finding more ways the Y has impacted my life. Walking into this facility, I feel part of a close knit community where everyone knows each other by name. In my swim lessons, I see how much love the children have for me as their teacher and how happy they are when they achieve their full potential. At the Y, I grasped an understanding of true respect not just for your elders, but for your peers as well. Lastly, the Y has had a tremendous impact on my belief of responsibility. This value is not just about being on time or attending class, it means being a role model for children.”

-A Y Staff Member

“…My friend and I , who are both mothers, decided we wanted to compete in a local triathlon. We started our training so that we had a year to prepare. The problem for me was that I really could not swim. When I received a Y membership, it was such a blessing because now I could use the facilities to train. The first time I got into the pool, I jogged in the shallow end and flailed through the deep end. I managed just 20 lengths. It was definitely more splash than stroke…From the pool, I could look in the hall at a poster with the quote, “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them”… Everyone at the Y was so helpful and encouraging. I competed in the Y’s Sprint Triathlon in June. I wanted to see how I was doing and how the transitions went. To my shock, I was the third overall woman to finish! In August it was time for my big event. In many ways, everything went wrong. It was rainy, I had bike problems and other complications. However, with the Lord’s help, I was faithful to run my race and finish the course…I am so thankful to everyone who helped me reach my goal.”

- A Y Member

“As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child” and the Y has become part of our village community…my son’s involvement in Teen Leaders has provided a great opportunity for leadership and exposure to older teen and adult role models. This is an activity he has been able to call his own, independent from mom, and one that I feel very comfortable with due to what it stands for…On a personal note, I have had the opportunity to meet new people and consider my goals for moving forward…Thank you!”

- A Y Member

“I want to thank you for being such a positive influence on me and my family’s life this past year! Through your encouragement and support, I have been able to make exercise a consistent part of life and have found myself stronger and healthier than ever before. My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed all the classes we’ve taken and the teachers that lead them…I also want to mention how much I appreciate the Open Doors program making our membership affordable…Thank you for making it possible for our family to enjoy the Y and the healthy habits that come with that.”

-From a Y Family Member