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.

Its mission is "For Women's fitness, For cancer survivors, For cancer education, For life."

The 22nd annual event took place Oct. 18 in Little Lehigh Parkway with more than 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.

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.

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," Director of Media Relations Denise Rader said. "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."

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, front and sleeves more than 50 of her patients, all cancer survivors, who signed her shirt over the years.