Todd and Ben Deremer at a previous bike ride.

Todd Deremer is the adaptive physical education instructor at Matheny’s Adult Learning Center in Hillsborough. He has worked at Matheny for more than 16 years and is passionate about the well-being of Matheny’s patients and students. And he is passing that passion down to his son, Ben. On May 31, at Miles for Matheny, Ben will be joining his father in their “Big Bike Race,” a 25-mile ride.

“Once again,” Todd says, “my little man will navigate and call the shots for 25 miles on his bike seat.” Deremer is asking his friends, family and Matheny colleagues to “please support us as we ride for ‘Daddy’s friends at work,’ whom Ben has come to know personally.” As of May 21, Deremer had raised $405.

The 25-mile route is one of five cycling rides at Miles for Matheny. Other events include the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk, a one-mile Fitness Walk and a Kids Fun Run, all preceded by a “Breakfast of Champions” provided by The Friends of Matheny.

All funds raised at Miles for Matheny will benefit programs and services that enhance the lives of the patients and students at Matheny and serve people with disabilities in the community. Premier sponsor is the Poses Family Foundation. Other major sponsors are: the Golub Family, Mariner Wealth Advisors – Madison, Partlow Insurance, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C. Attorneys at Law and WCBS Newsradio 880.

To register or form a fundraising team, log onto www.milesformatheny.org or call 908.234.0011, ext. 260. To support Todd and Ben Deremer’s bike ride, log onto the Miles for Matheny website, click on Search for Participant and type in Todd Deremer.

Ben Deremer.

Jaime and Jeff Jonach.

When Jeff Jonach of Toms River, NJ was a member of the Matheny kitchen staff, his daughter, Jaime, now a resident of Holmdel, NJ, would volunteer at Matheny. She especially remembers “planning fun activities with the kids.”

In 2009, Jeff was diagnosed with ALS and eventually passed away. But, while he was suffering from this disease, Jaime remembers that “Matheny went to great lengths to help our family, providing us with wheelchairs and other equipment necessary to get through every day.” Matheny, she says, “holds a special place in my heart. I will never forget the wonderful things they have done for us and the fantastic facilities they provide for the children and adults residing there.”

As a result, Jaime will be biking 25 miles at Miles for Matheny and also will be participating in the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk as a walking partner. She has formed a fundraising team, Team Jonach, and, as of May 21, had raised $920.

All funds raised at Miles for Matheny will benefit programs and services that enhance the lives of the patients and students at Matheny and serve people with disabilities in the community. Premier sponsor is the Poses Family Foundation. Other major sponsors are: the Golub Family, Mariner Wealth Advisors – Madison, Partlow Insurance, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C. Attorneys at Law, and WCBS Newsradio 880.

May 28 is the last day to register online for Miles for Matheny at www.milesformatheny.org. However, you can support Team Jonach by logging onto the Miles for Matheny website, clicking on Search for Participant and typing in Team Jonach. Says Jaime: “I ask that, if you can, please use the link provided to make a donation to our team.”

Jordan, left, and Courtney Smith of Bedminster handed out water bottles at Miles for Matheny 2014.

“Hi. I am interested in volunteering for the upcoming Miles for Matheny event. My family has recently relocated to Gladstone, and we’ve heard that this is a wonderful event and would like to help out in some way. Please let me know if you are in need of volunteers and in what capacity. Thank you.”

That email from new Gladstone, NJ, resident Kristen Huamani, is typical of the community support for the 18th annual Miles for Matheny, the fundraiser and community event being held this Sunday, May 31, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack, NJ. All five members of the Huamani family will be volunteering that day along with more than 400 others who will be doing things like distributing t-shirts, processing registration, handing out water bottles, greeting Matheny students and patients as they arrive in the park, painting faces, walking with wheelchair participants, forming cheering sections along the wheelchair walk route, cleaning up and helping people park their cars at Pfizer.

Groups include the Junior Friends of Matheny (mainly high school students from Bernards and Ridge), members of the Peapack–Gladstone-based Lone Eagle Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, employees of Peapack–Gladstone Bank and several other school and church groups.

A new group, “PG Loves Matheny,” will be participating in the Fitness Walk. Says member Donna Brooten of Gladstone: “There are many Matheny supporters in Peapack–Gladstone, and a one-mile Fitness Walk is the perfect way to show your support. Join the ‘PG Loves Matheny’ team on May 31 at 12:15 at Liberty Park.”

Events at Miles for Matheny include the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk, the new Fitness Walk, a Kids Fun Run and five different Cycling rides. A “Breakfast of Champions” will be available, courtesy of The Friends of Matheny. All funds raised will support programs and services that enhance the lives of the children and adults at Matheny and provide services for people with disabilities in the community.

Premier sponsor is The Poses Family Foundation. Other major sponsors include the Golub Family, Mariner Wealth Advisors, Partlow Insurance, Peapack–Gladstone Bank, Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C. Attorneys at Law and WCBS Newsradio 880. For more information, log onto www.milesformatheny.org or call (908) 234-0011, ext. 260.

Residents of Mendham Road in Gladstone formed their own cheering section last year for participants in the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk.

Andy Lash at Miles for Matheny in 2013, with, from left, Dan Kane, Melissa and Jack Lash, Morgan and Fred Lash.

Andy Lash will turn 44 in July, and, according to his brother, Justin, “his life has been immeasurably improved by his many years at Matheny. He’s truly a citizen of the community there and has build many long relationships with both his fellow residents and members of the staff.”

That’s why Justin, his wife, Melissa, and son, Jack, along with his parents, Fred and Sue Lash, and sister, Morgan and her husband, Dan, will all be walking with Andy in the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk at the 18th annual Miles for Matheny on Sunday, May 31, in Peapack, NJ. The Lash family members have been participating in Miles for 15 years, and Justin estimates they have raised more than $50,000. This year, their Andy “Flash” Lash fundraising team has a goal of raising $5,000, and they had totaled $2,000 as of April 30.

“We are reaching out to work colleagues and other associates,” Justin says, “to remind them of who Andy is, the life he leads and how even a small donation means so much to him and his fellow Matheny residents. The response is always touching and reminds us of how many good people there are in our midst.”

In addition to the Wheelchair Walk, which proceeds one mile around downtown Peapack, Miles activities include five Cycling rides, a Kids Fun Run, and a new one-mile Fitness Walk, which is stroller-friendly and precedes the Wheelchair Walk. There is also a “Breakfast of Champions” sponsored by The Friends of Matheny.

The premier sponsor of Miles is The Poses Family Foundation. Other major sponsors are: The Golub Family, Mariner Wealth Advisors–Madison; Partlow Insurance Agency, Peapack–Gladstone Bank, Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C. Attorneys at Law, and WCBS Newsradio 880. For more information or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org. To support Andy Lash, go to Search for Participant and type in Andy “Flash” Lash.

Stephen Mauriello.

When Stephen and Lurdes Mauriello’s son, Danny, was diagnosed with a rare heart disease called Long QT syndrome, the couple was told he would probably not live to see his first birthday. Danny lived until age six, and when he died, the Mauriellos were devastated. “I took up cycling as a way to work through my grief,” Stephen says, “and it just seemed fitting, on the two-year anniversary in the month of Danny’s passing, that I can do something to honor his life and for the children and adults who attend Matheny.”

Having a special child like Danny, he says, “has made me see the world with a more compassionate set of eyes. When I saw the flyer for Miles for Matheny, it seemed like this was an opportunity to use my abilities as a cyclist to help those who are not as fortunate as me. It’s really a privilege and an honor, not just to ride, but to raise money for this wonderful school and hospital!”

Stephen has created a fundraising page on the Miles for Matheny website.  His original fundraising goal was $1,000, but he has already surpassed that, reaching $1,750 as of April 29. His message: “When I see the children in their wheelchairs, it breaks my heart. I think of my own son, Danny, who was often hospitalized but kept smiling as a lot of these Matheny kids do. Please join me in raising money. Kindly give whatever you can—I’ll put the 50 miles in.” The Mauriellos live in Morris Township with their two other sons, six-year-old Robby and 10-month-old Tommy.

The 18th annual Miles for Matheny will feature five Cycling rides, a Kids Fun Run, a new Fitness Walk and the signature event, the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk, in which more than 100 wheelchair participants, with walking partners, will travel one mile around downtown Peapack. All funds raised at Miles will benefit programs and services that enhance the lives of the patients and students at Matheny.

Premier sponsor is The Poses Family Foundation. Other major sponsors are: The Golub Family, Mariner Wealth Advisors—Madison, Partlow Insurance Agency, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C. Attorneys at Law and WCBS Newsradio 880.

For more information or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org. To support Stephen Mauriello, go to Search for Participant and type in his name.

Danny Mauriello.

Barbara and Sara Hoffman.

Twelve-year-old Sara Hoffman was enrolled in The Matheny School in September 2013, and her parents, Barbara and Jeff Hoffman of Califon, “feel so blessed that she’s able to attend. We absolutely love the school.” To demonstrate their appreciation, the Hoffmans have created a fundraising page to raise money for Miles for Matheny, the annual fundraiser and community event that will be held on Sunday, May 31, in downtown Peapack. As of April 27, they had raised $695.

The fundraising page is called “Pikkle’s Posse” and its origin can be traced to Sara’s early childhood. “When she was an infant,” Barbara explained, “she had a hard time sleeping, and we would be up late at night with her. We just said, ‘She’s a little pikkle.’”

Sara was born with a neurological disorder called Aicardi syndrome, which results in frequent seizures beginning in infancy. The typical lifespan for an Aicardi syndrome patient, Hoffman pointed out, is 10 years. “We’ve already surpassed that by two years!”

Prior to coming to Matheny, Sara attended the Valley View Elementary School in Califon, part of the Lebanon Township school district. According to her mother, she had a good experience there, but Matheny “is a better fit. Every parent wants their child to fit in, and this is where Sara fits in. These kids are her peers. When we’re out in public, she stands out, people stare. But at Matheny, everybody is so welcoming—plus we have the therapies and the outdoor pool in the summer. They are better equipped to handle her here.”

Matheny, Hoffman feels, is like a family. Her older daughter, Amy, volunteers in the summer, and “because of her sister, she wants to get into pediatric nursing.” And the Hoffmans also appreciate the opportunity to interact with other Matheny families.

At Miles for Matheny, they will be walking with Sara in the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk in which friends and families, along with Matheny staff members, travel alongside more than 100 Matheny children and adults who “wheel” through the streets of downtown Peapack to the cheers of community members and other supporters. Other activities include a new Fitness Walk, five Cycling rides and a Kids’ Fun Run, all preceded by The Friends of Matheny’s “Breakfast of Champions.” Title sponsor is the Poses Family Foundation.

Funds raised at Miles for Matheny will benefit programs and services that enhance the lives of children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities and serve people with disabilities in the community. For more information or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org or call 908.234.0011, ext. 260. To help support Barbara and Jeff Hoffman’s fundraising efforts, go to the Miles website and click on Search for Participant. Then type in Pikkle’s Posse.

Participants in last year’s Kids Fun Run.

The Kids Fun Run at Miles for Matheny is designed for the youngest racing enthusiasts. The event consists of four sprints for children, ages 3 to 10, divided by age category. Everyone is a winner, though, as all Fun Run participants receive a medal, thanks to our Kids Fun Run sponsor, Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C., Attorneys at Law.

The 18th annual Miles for Matheny will be held on Sunday, May 31, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack. In addition to the Kids Fun Run, Miles for Matheny participants can be part of the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk, five different Cycling routes and our new Fitness Walk. A “Breakfast of Champions” will be provided by The Friends of Matheny.

All funds raised at Miles for Matheny will support the programs and services that enhance the lives of Matheny’s students and patients, children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities. Premier Miles sponsor is The Poses Family Foundation. Other major sponsors are: The Golub Family, Mariner Wealth Advisors – Madison, Partlow Insurance Agency,  Peapack-Gladstone Bank, and WCBS Newsradio 880. For more information or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org or call 908.234.0011, ext. 260.

Cyclists at last year’s Miles for Matheny.

Cycle through the beautiful Somerset Hills of New Jersey to support all the programs and services that enhance the lives of children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities.

The 18th annual Miles for Matheny will be held on Sunday, May 31, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack. Cyclists will have their choice of 10-, 25-, 35- , and 50-mile bike routes, plus a challenging “Hills of Attrition” route. All five routes were designed by members of the Bedminster Flyers, a recreational cycling club located in the Somerset Hills area. Members of the club ride on Wednesday evenings from April through September. The cycling sponsor once again is Peapack-Gladstone Bank.

In addition to the cycling routes, Miles for Matheny participants can be part of the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk, the Kids Fun Run and the new Fitness Walk. For more information, log onto milesformatheny.org or call 908.234.0011, ext. 260.

Richard Kelly and friends during last year’s Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk.

Online registration is now open for the 18th annual Miles for Matheny, our fundraiser and community event being held Sunday, May 31, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack, NJ. Log onto  www.milesformatheny.org  to register for one or more events and to create your own fundraising team.

All proceeds from Miles for Matheny will benefit programs and services that enhance the lives of the children and adults at Matheny and serve people with disabilities in the community. Activities at Miles include:

• Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk – join with Matheny patients and students as they wheel one mile through downtown Peapack.
• Fitness Walk – one-mile power walk for all ages immediately preceding the Wheelchair Walk, with all walkers invited to go the extra mile by joining the Wheelchair Walk participants for a second mile around town.
• Cycling – choose from five different cycling routes through Somerset Hills country roads.
• Kids Fun Run – four different races for children, ages 3-10.
• Live music, family entertainment and refreshments throughout the day.

Everyone’s a winner in the Kids Fun Run.

The Fitness Walk is one mile but can be doubled to two miles if you continue on in the Wheelchair Walk.

This year’s Miles for Matheny will feature a new Fitness Walk, a one-mile walk held just before the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk. You can walk at your own pace, or power walk, and when the first mile is finished, you have the option of going the extra mile by joining in with the Wheelchair Walk.

The 18th annual Miles for Matheny will be held on Sunday, May 31, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack. In addition to the Fitness Walk and Wheelchair Walk, there are five Cycling routes and a Kids Fun Run, all preceded by The Friends of Matheny’s “Breakfast of Champions.” All funds raised at Miles for Matheny will benefit programs and services that enhance the lives of the children and adults at Matheny and serve people with disabilities in the community.

For more information, or to register, log onto www.milesformatheny.org or call (908) 234-0011, ext. 260.