Hundreds To Take Part In 16th Annual Miles For Matheny Fundraiser

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The 16th annual Miles for Matheny bike, walk and wheelchair race will be held Sunday at Liberty Park in Peapack, N.J.

Hundreds of participants have signed up for the fundraising event to benefit the Matheny Medical and Educational Center.

There are more than 100 residents of Matheny, which offers medical care, schooling and social interaction for physically and developmentally disabled kids and adults.

Justin and Morgan Lash's brother Andy, 41, has cerebral palsy and has been living at Matheny for 35 years.

"It's meant so much to our family just the fact that he has a sense of community and a place to call his own and a place that he really has flourished throughout his life," Justin Lash told CBS 2's Cindy Hsu.

The family said Matheny provides a great service.

"They have afforded not only Andy but the rest of the residents there with so much self-confidence as a family would do," Morgan Lash told Hsu. "It's all through the creativity and the dedication to the wonderful therapists and staff there."

Miles for Matheny features several bike rides, from a 10-mile ride to a 50-mile ride, a 5K run and the signature wheelchair walk that the Matheny residents partake in.

Jack Levinston, 13, is running in Sunday's 5K as his Bar Mitzvah project. He told WCBS 880's Wayne Cabot he is hoping to raise $5,000 for Matheny.

"Their program is really cool," Levinston told Cabot.

CBS 2's Alex Denis and WCBS 880's Wayne Cabot will be taking part in the event on Sunday. Click here for more information.