4 / 8
4
Lisa Farmer never imagined she could run a 5K. At nearly 300
pounds, she faced high blood pressure and other weight-related
health complications. Then, she turned to Virtua’s Bariatric Program
for help.
She enrolled in the comprehensive program of pre- and post-surgical
care, including fitness, nutrition, psychological counseling and
support groups. She also joined the program’s bariatric support
group on Facebook.
On the site, Lisa Shaw, bariatric surgery clinical program manager at
Virtua, challenged members to participate in the 3rd Annual Virtua
Memorial Auxiliary 5K and 1-mile Fun Walk.
Farmer accepted the challenge and joined the “Virtua Weight Loss
Warriors” in training for the race. She had lost 161 pounds since her
surgery in 2013 and was ready to set a goal she never before
thought possible.
“I was tired of letting the weight hold me back. I feel better now than I
felt when I was a teenager. I feel alive,” said Farmer. “Many of us with
weight struggles let the weight control us and it doesn’t have to.”
On September 20, she not only completed the VMA 5K, but ran her
personal best. With tears in her eyes, Farmer crossed the finish line,
hand in hand with her personal trainer and surrounded by
fellow Warriors.
“My heart was beating so hard - not because I was running but
because I was so excited and couldn’t believe I was finishing a 5K,”
said Farmer.
Runner’s remarkable VMa 5K accomplishment
What a Difference a Year Makes
MORE THAN
runners/walkers
300
VIRTUA
EMPLOYEES
PARTICIPATED
97
with a time of 20 min.
16
$
raised to support Cardiac
Services at Virtua Memorial
17,750
FasTesT Child
age 7
YOUNGEST 5K
PARTICIPANT
1st place finisher
with a pace of 6:03
18:50
AGE
83
OLDEST
PARTICIPANT
AGE
participants
in the 1-mile
Fun Walk
72
TIME
OF
2
0
1
4
T
H
I
R
D
A
N
N
U
A
L
SatuRday
SEPt. 20, 2014
Lisa Shaw, Lisa
Farmer and Linda
Hutchinson.