The Women's 5K Classic promotes fitness among women, invites women to participate in running and walking to enhance their physical, mental and emotional well-being, supports women with breast and female cancers and their families, contributes to funding for related programs and research in the Lehigh Valley and educates women about cancer awareness, prevention and treatment.

The event mission is "For women's fitness, For cancer survivors, For cancer education, For life."

The 22nd annual event was held Oct. 18 in Little Lehigh Parkway with over 4,500 participants.

Anyone female in reasonable health who felt she could walk or run the 3.1 mile event was invited to participate. Males were invited to be volunteers and cheerleaders on the course.

A 5K run, 5K competitive walk and 5K walk in the park were timed events.

This year the Women's 5K Classic collaborated with the Runner's World Half in Bethlehem to offer participants the "PINK 16.2!" Those participants registered to run (or walk) the Women's 5K Classic Oct. 18, and the Runner's World half marathon Oct. 19 for a total distance 16.2 miles.

Chief Executive Officer and President of National Penn Bank Scott Fainor provided opening remarks and helped motivate the more than 4,500 participants by announcing a contribution of $19,000 to the event total.

Women's 5K Classic board members Ingrid Gerber and Sara Glassman said they hoped to raise $200,000 with this event.

"We give out $200,000 to local nonprofit organizations," Glassman said. "We support and educate women on female cancers and support healthy lifestyles for girls and women. Since 1993, we have raised over $2,300,000 in the greater Lehigh Valley."

St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network, a gold sponsor, is heavily involved in and supports the Women's 5K.

"For more than 20 years, St. Luke's has been a partner of the Women's 5K Classic – and has been one of the local beneficiaries of the funds raised through the race. Over the past decade or more, St. Luke's employees who have participated as part of Team St Luke's has numbered 150-plus women annually" Director of Media Relations Denise Rader said.

One of the participants, St. Luke's surgeon Marian McDonald, M.D., FACS ran in her 18th consecutive Women's 5K Classic. McDonald was 'carrying' many of her patients with her during the race … on her shirt back, shirt front and shirt sleeves over 50 of her patients, all cancer survivors, who have signed her shirt over the years.

"I run for my patients' lives and to show support for my patients," McDonald said, "to show that I'm strong for my patients and I'm still here for them that continuity is so important. My running says, 'life keeps going' and I'm here to sweat for you, to struggle with you and I'm here for you every step of the way. Getting to the finish line is an affirmation we're all not just still alive, but we're all living in health, and happiness and peace."

McDonald currently serves as an assistant professor of surgery for Temple University St. Luke's College of Medicine, and is the Chief of General Surgery for the St. Luke's University Health Network-Allentown Campus.

For race results or more information on the Women's 5K Classic, visit the website at www.womensclassic5K.org.