Sports

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 January 2018 13:39

Concerned with her own fitness level, Lori Lamberski established the Mon Valley Trailblazers Walking Club.

Lori Lamberski always wanted to improve her physical fitness level. As a caregiver the past 10 years for her mother, Norma Lewis, who suffers from dementia and heart disease, Lamberski decided to do just that.“I see myself and my health declining because she can’t be left alone,” Lamberski said of her mom. “I’m actually stuck, and all I do is eat. I don’t have anything else to get me involved actively.”

Aware other caregivers deal with similar problems, the Monessen woman sought a way to form friendships with them and others. That led to creation of the Mon Valley Trailblazers Walking Club, a group of men, children and women working to create a healthy community. Lamberski is the club’s president.

Its mission is to promote and organize noncompetitive fitness activities that encourage lifelong fun, fitness and friendship for all ages and abilities. The club is sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association.The term ‘volkssport’ means ‘sport of the people.’

Volkssporting promotes organized events for the general public. Participants go at their own pace while taking part in five types of events: walking, biking, swimming, skiing and snowshoeing or roller skating. Lamberski established the Mon Valley club July 3 because the closest volkssporting event in Pennsylvania is in the Harrisburg area.

A number of year-round and seasonal events are planned throughout 2018. “You have different events; you have a traditional, where you set up tables and have a start and a finish line,” Lamberski said. “Then, you have a seasonal, which runs from a certain date to a certain date every year, and you have year-round [events] that are from January 1 to December 31.”

Some traditional events this year include 5K and 10K walks at Cedar Creek Park in Rostraver Township, Ohiopyle State Park and Mingo Creek Park in Union Township. A seasonal snowshoe event is scheduled from January to March at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Wharton Township, Fayette County. Members can obtain distance books to track the number of kilometers they walk and events in which they participate.

To get involved, call 724-858-5965 or go to www.mvtrailblazers.com.