Bellevue-area residents run NYC Marathon for local children’s charity

Published 5:12 pm Monday, November 7, 2011

Last weekend, four Bellevue-area residents ran the New York City Marathon, raising $290,000 for Carnation’s Camp Korey, an organization that provides various services for children with disabilities.

The Eastsiders who were were part of the 38-person team included Christoph and Jenny Palmanshofer, Howard McQuaid and Wendy Paisley.

Paisley, of Medina, said she ran to increase awareness and because she wanted to help raise at least $300,000 for the camp, where many children with life-threatening or serious illnesses attend week-long summer camp sessions in an environment that provides for their medical needs, yet let’s them have fun with other kids – at no cost to their families.

Leading up to the marathon last Saturday, Paisley held her own fundraiser in her neighborhood, “Run with Wendy,” where she invited friends and family over to her house for a barbecue and “fun run” to spread the word about her involvement in the east coast marathon.

A family friend of Paisley’s, a 16-year-old girl with a skin condition that prevents her from going to a traditional camp, benefited tremendously from the Camp Korey experience, Paisley said.

The team was organized by one of Camp Korey’s board members, Chris McReynolds, who decided to take on this athletic and fundraising challenge in celebration of his 50th birthday.

The campers who will benefit from the are ages 7-18, and have a variety of conditions, including pediatric cancer, craniofacial differences, mitochondrial disease and organ transplant.