GETTYSBURG, PA (September 12, 2023) –To honor and support its residents along with the broader community, Amblebrook at Gettysburg, an award-winning 55+ community, will host its inaugural Annual Memorial 5K Race and Fun Walk on Saturday, September 16, 2023.
Cora Witmer, the granddaughter of an Amblebrook at Gettysburg family, was a radiant soul who tragically lost her battle against childhood cancer in January 2023. Inspired by her story, the Amblebrook team decided to coordinate and host its first memorial event to honor residents of Amblebrook and their loved ones who have passed away. This initial fundraising 5K Race and Fun Walk will raise funds for “COuRAgeous for CORA.” All proceeds will be donated directly to the Children’s Cancer Therapy Institute (cc-TDI), which is dedicated to researching and uncovering new treatments and cures for rare pediatric cancers.
Cora bravely battled Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a type of cancer she was diagnosed with at just 15 months old. RMS is the most common soft tissue tumor in children with approximately 400 cases detected annually in the United States. After numerous surgeries, radiation treatments, and chemotherapy sessions, Cora and her family were hopeful that she was cured. However, the highly aggressive nature of RMS led to its reoccurrence. When asked what she wanted to do, Cora responded, “fight until I can’t anymore.” Desperate to give Cora a chance at life, her family supported her decision to pursue additional treatments until her tiny body could no longer fight. Cora Witmer succumbed to RMS in January 2023 at age 12.
Recognizing that many children with similar diagnoses face the same fate as Cora, her family is now prioritizing the development of safer, less harsh treatments designed to give children a chance at life. “Cora loved life and didn’t deserve to have hers cut so short,” shared Cora’s mother, Laurie Witmer. “We miss her every day and do not want any other family to endure what we have experienced.”
The primary challenge to patients battling metastatic RMS is the development of resistance to commonly used chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, the discovery of new drugs and a focus on drug development strategies are of paramount importance. In May, the Children’s Cancer Therapy Institute published new research suggesting a framework for RMS drug development, a positive step in saving the lives of children like Cora.
“When we learned about Cora’s story, we immediately began organizing an event in support of her family,” said Sara Carbonell, director of marketing and sales for Amblebrook at Gettysburg. “We’re a close-knit community that values human connections formed both at Amblebrook and the larger Gettysburg community. Our newly established Annual 5K by Lifestyle Director Holly Ables and Fitness Manager Katie Green will honor all loved ones of Amblebrook residents who have passed, and all profits from these events will be donated to a chosen charity each year.”
The 2023 Amblebrook 5K Race and Fun Walk, scheduled for September 16, will take place on-site at 254 Amblebrook Boulevard, Gettysburg and begin at 8:30 am. The event will conclude with a celebration of life, featuring music, food, and activities for participants and their supporters.
Interested participants can register here. The cost to register is $35-$45 per participant. Donations too, can be made directly in Cora’s memory to the family’s COuRAgeous for Cora care page.
About Amblebrook Gettysburg
Amblebrook at Gettysburg is award-winning, resort-style 55 active adult community in historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, built for connectivity and the discovery of everyday joy. Being developed by CCD Rock Creek and managed by Crown Community Development, Amblebrook has approved plans for a total of 779 acres and 2,005 residential homes across five unique neighborhoods. With 300 acres currently under development, the community features a best-in-class amenities campus, including the 24,000 square foot Rock Creek Clubhouse and 22,000 square foot Rock Creek Fitness Center. Amblebrook was awarded the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association’s “Community of the Year,” in 2022 and was named among ideal-LIVING magazine’s “Top 100 Planned Communities” in 2020. Crown Community Development is a part of the Henry Crown and Company umbrella of diverse operating and investment companies, established in 1919. Crown Community Development develops and invests in master-planned communities throughout the U.S., including Seattle, Austin, San Antonio, Nashville, Tampa, Chicago, Castle Rock, CO, Indianapolis, and Gettysburg. For more information, visit amblebrookgettysburg.com.
