Photo by: Steps4Stellar
Lehigh Athletes and Alums Support this Saturday's Steps4Stellar
7/8/2016 9:10:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field, Cross Country
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Current and former members of the Lehigh cross country and track programs will come together with hundreds of others this Saturday for a worthy cause at the sixth annual Steps4Stellar 5K Run and Walk.
Established in 2011, Steps4Stellar is a nonprofit organization aiming to raise awareness for ovarian cancer and help families who are affected by the disease. Dana Stellar Holmes '10, a former Lehigh cross country and track student-athlete founded the organization in memory of her mother, Debbie (Wilson) Stellar. Debbie is the founder and served as president of the Lehigh University Cross Country Booster Club and the L.U. Track and Field Booster Club.
It is through the founding of those clubs that Stellar's legacy lives on in the Lehigh track and cross country programs.
"When Dana came to Lehigh, right away her parents wanted to start a tailgate group, and Debbie really led it until she passed away," said head men's cross country coach Todd Etters. "Now we tailgate after every home meet, we buy all our kids jackets, our parents are really involved and all know each other. It's all because Debbie had the vision to set it up and it's something that continues to this day."
The 2016 edition of the walk and run will begin at 9 a.m. this Saturday, July 9 at Cedar Beach Park in Allentown. The entry fee is $30 and registration runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m. on Saturday, with proceeds going towards a college educational scholarship in Debbie's name to help a student-athlete whose family suffers from cancer.
"I truly have Lehigh's XC/Track programs to thank for that," Dana Stellar Holmes said. "They have supported my family since I first set foot on Lehigh's campus in 2006, during my senior year when we lost my mom to ovarian cancer, and ever since I graduated. Without their support for Steps4Stellar, we wouldn't be celebrating our sixth year. They bring amazing competition and such a wonderful sense of community for all the alumni to be a part of! I am so blessed to forever be a party of the Lehigh XC and track families."
"Both cross country teams have made it an annual thing," Etters said. "In addition to our whole team, there's going to be about 50 alums coming back and participating as well. They are just happy to be a part of it and know that it's all going to a good cause."
The 5K is not the only event happening this weekend at Cedar Beach Park, as the Stellar's are also running the Stellar Catch a Rising Star Basketball Tournament, the largest high school affiliated basketball tournament in the nation.
For more information on Steps4Stellar, this weekend's Walk and Run, or to make a donation, visit Steps4Stellar.com, or visit their Facebook page.
Established in 2011, Steps4Stellar is a nonprofit organization aiming to raise awareness for ovarian cancer and help families who are affected by the disease. Dana Stellar Holmes '10, a former Lehigh cross country and track student-athlete founded the organization in memory of her mother, Debbie (Wilson) Stellar. Debbie is the founder and served as president of the Lehigh University Cross Country Booster Club and the L.U. Track and Field Booster Club.
It is through the founding of those clubs that Stellar's legacy lives on in the Lehigh track and cross country programs.
"When Dana came to Lehigh, right away her parents wanted to start a tailgate group, and Debbie really led it until she passed away," said head men's cross country coach Todd Etters. "Now we tailgate after every home meet, we buy all our kids jackets, our parents are really involved and all know each other. It's all because Debbie had the vision to set it up and it's something that continues to this day."
The 2016 edition of the walk and run will begin at 9 a.m. this Saturday, July 9 at Cedar Beach Park in Allentown. The entry fee is $30 and registration runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m. on Saturday, with proceeds going towards a college educational scholarship in Debbie's name to help a student-athlete whose family suffers from cancer.
"I truly have Lehigh's XC/Track programs to thank for that," Dana Stellar Holmes said. "They have supported my family since I first set foot on Lehigh's campus in 2006, during my senior year when we lost my mom to ovarian cancer, and ever since I graduated. Without their support for Steps4Stellar, we wouldn't be celebrating our sixth year. They bring amazing competition and such a wonderful sense of community for all the alumni to be a part of! I am so blessed to forever be a party of the Lehigh XC and track families."
"Both cross country teams have made it an annual thing," Etters said. "In addition to our whole team, there's going to be about 50 alums coming back and participating as well. They are just happy to be a part of it and know that it's all going to a good cause."
The 5K is not the only event happening this weekend at Cedar Beach Park, as the Stellar's are also running the Stellar Catch a Rising Star Basketball Tournament, the largest high school affiliated basketball tournament in the nation.
For more information on Steps4Stellar, this weekend's Walk and Run, or to make a donation, visit Steps4Stellar.com, or visit their Facebook page.
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