Anchoring the Wheelchair Walk

At Miles for Matheny 2012: Otis Livingston and his son Marquis with Lloyd and Edana Desatnick of Basking Ridge, NJ, and their son Bryan, a Matheny student.

“It’s a little dreary, but we’re not going to let that dampen our spirits. The motto is: ‘Go the Miles and make some Smiles.’ Let’s do that today, and let’s have a great time.” So said WCBS-TV sports anchor Otis Livingston, as he cheered on the participants in the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk last year at Miles for Matheny, our fundraiser and community event to be held this year on Sunday, April 21, in Peapack’s Liberty Park. Livingston will be making a return appearance, hopefully under sunnier skies.

WCBS-TV, along with sister station WCBS Newsradio 880, will again be broadcast media sponsors of Miles for Matheny, which in addition to the wheelchair walk, includes a 5K Road Race, five different Cycling routes, a Kids Fun Run and The Friends of Matheny’s “Breakfast of Champions,” followed by luncheon refreshments in the park. All funds raised at Miles help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny inpatients and people with disabilities in communities throughout New Jersey.

A multi-Emmy Award winner, Livingston lives in New Jersey with his wife and five children. He has been part of the CBS 2 sports team since 2009. Prior to that, he reported on sports for “Today in New York” on WNBC-TV and has also reported for WWOR-TV and WPHL-TV in Philadelphia. In 2004, Livingston carried the Olympic Torch through part of the Torch’s world tour leading up to the Summer Olympics in Athens. He was a member of the University of Kansas basketball team that won the national championship in 1988 and is a graduate of the University of Idaho with a BS in telecommunications.

To find out how you can be part of this fun-filled and uplifting event, log onto www.milesformatheny.org or call (908) 234-0011, ext. 260.

Otis Livingston and his son Marquis, keeping dry in the gym last year with Matheny adult student Dion Alston and the New Jersey Devils mascot.

Chuck Matheny and friends in the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk.

Miles for Matheny, according to Steve Proctor, Matheny president, is a day that, “our patients, students and their families look forward to with great anticipation, and it was particularly meaningful this year because we returned to downtown Peapack. We could not have had such a successful event without the help and cooperation of the Borough of Peapack-Gladstone. The police and fire departments, public works department and mayor’s office all went the extra mile, so to speak, to make sure we had a safe and inspiring day. I’d also like to thank all the volunteers, Matheny staff members and other participants from the community for coming out on a less than perfect day to support us.”

Miles activities included the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk, a 5K run, five different cycling routes and a kids fun run, all followed by a rain-shortened picnic. WCBS-TV sports anchor Otis Livingston kicked off the Wheelchair Walk and WCBS Newsradio 880’s Wayne Cabot sent the 5K runners on their way.

All funds raised at Miles for Matheny help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to people with disabilities in the community. Donations are still being accepted at www.milesformatheny.org.

Major Miles sponsors include: The Poses Family Foundation; Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation; Archer & Greiner, P.C.; BP Fueling Communities; WCBS-TV and WCBS Newsradio 880; Partlow Insurance Agency; Peapack-Gladstone Bank; and Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C.

Matheny student Bryan Desatnick with his father Lloyd, left, and mother Edana, right, sharing a laugh with CBS 2’s Otis Livingston and his son Marquis.

WCBS-TV has been a proud sponsor of Miles for Matheny for several years.  The station’s support, along with that of sister station WCBS Newsradio 880, has been incredible. Sports anchor Otis Livingston appeared in a public service announcement that aired on CBS 2 for a month preceding Miles for Matheny and was at the event on April 22 to kick off the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk. WCBS Newsradio’s Wayne Cabot was also on hand to launch the 5K run.

Matheny parent Andrew Gordon and public relations director Sandy Josephson were interviewed Saturday morning, April 21, by CBS 2 weekend anchor Don Dahler. Here’s a video of that interview.

Otis Livingston.

Otis Livingston, weekday sports anchor for WCBS-TV, will emcee the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk at the 15th annual Miles for Matheny event to be held Sunday, April 22, at Liberty Park in downtown Peapack. A multi-Emmy Award winner, Livingston lives in New Jersey with his wife and five children.

WCBS-TV, along with its sister station, WCBS Newsradio 880, will again be a broadcast media sponsor of Miles for Matheny, which will be returning to downtown Peapack after two years at Natirar Park.

All funds raised at Miles for Matheny will help support the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care for Matheny inpatients and for people with disabilities in the community.

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