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Brooklynites can register to join the NYC Walk4Hearing on 9/29

September 12, 2013 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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Is someone you know or love affected by hearing loss? More than 1,500 New Yorkers from the five boroughs and Long Island will gather for the sixth annual NYC Walk4Hearing on Sunday, September 29, 2013 in New York City’s Riverside Park. Organized by the Hearing Loss Association of America’s (HLAA) Manhattan Chapter, the event raises awareness of the challenges facing 48 million Americans with hearing loss and their families.  The event provides education about hearing loss, helps erase the stigma associated with it, and raises funds for programs and services. 

Among the Brooklyn teams participating are Brooklyn College, Long Island University —  Brooklyn Campus, STRIVRIGHT – AOSNY (Auditory Oral School), A Secret Place and more.

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“Hearing loss is largely misunderstood, although it is a significant public health issue that is third in line nationally after heart disease and arthritis.  It’s important to get the word out that this is a complicated condition that affects people of all ages and impacts all aspects of everyday life,” says Suzanne D’Amico, NYC Walk Chair, whose 11-year-old daughter has moderately severe hearing loss. 

“We’re thrilled that so many families of children with hearing loss and hundreds of amazing walkers and volunteers are joining this important cause. We also guarantee that individual walkers, families and teams will have a wonderful time on that day.  Our Walk is very upbeat, enjoyable and inspiring,” she continued. 

The event will take place on Sunday, September 29, 2013 in Riverside Park, starting at West 97th Street and Riverside Drive and following a 5k (3.1-mile) route. Walk festivities feature children’s activities, state-of-the-art technology including captioned announcements via smartphones, giveaways, free hearing screenings, refreshments, prizes, and more.  A new looping system that is being installed in public places to enable people wearing hearing aids to hear announcements will be showcased.  

Registration begins at 9am and the Walk starts at 10am.  For more information and to pre-register, visit www.walk4hearing.org.  Walk teams and individual walkers from Metro area are welcome. Same-day registration is also available. 

New Yorkers supporting the cause include families, friends, co-workers, schools, educators, physicians, audiologists, students, business leaders, and others impacted by hearing loss. All are raising funds by forming Walk4Hearing teams and joining existing teams to highlight the issues of coping with hearing loss in their personal and professional lives. Groups from the Children’s Hearing Institute, Clarke School for Hearing and Speech, Center for Hearing and Communication, A.G. Bell-New York, Weill Cornell Medical College, St. Ann’s Church for the Deaf, area colleges and universities are on board.

Local sponsors include New York Relay, Metro Sound Pros, Joe Gordon, Michael and Marilyn Ratner, Regal Entertainment Group, Theatre Development Fund, Center for Hearing and Communication, R&L Press and Total Caption.  National sponsors include CapTel, Health Innovations, MED-EL, T-Mobile, and IntriCon.

Since its launch in 2006, the Walk4Hearing series has steadily gained momentum by raising more than $7 million, and welcoming 35,000 walkers.  It is the nation’s largest and fastest growing hearing loss fundraising and public awareness walk in the country.  The focus is on ending the stigma of hearing loss and providing support and resources for hearing loss prevention. 

The HLAA Manhattan Chapter offers education, monthly meetings, and support groups for people with hearing loss. Funds raised by the walk are used to award scholarships to high school students with hearing loss, provide grants to hearing-loss-related organizations for hearing loss research, employment assistance for people with hearing loss, and captioning of Broadway shows. The Chapter is promoting the installation of hearing loops in businesses and public places in NYC. 


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