April 9, 2007 : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Jean Haskell, 215-977-9382 , Helen Evelev, 215-351-2225 , Paula Paul, 215-438-9319 

Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia  PDF version

MY GRANNY IS A DISTANCE RUNNER

“My Granny is a distance runner!” or “My Granny is a roller blader!” may well be the hue and cry of several grandchildren on Sunday, April 15th when four members of the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia join hundreds of much younger runners for the Legs Against Arms 5k Run/Walk at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts at 52nd and Parkside Avenue.

The race will kick off at 9 am and will be followed by a Celebration of Youth featuring music, dance, and poetry, and a Peace Festival, offering educational venues for families, friends, and all participants.

Running the 5K race will be four grandmothers: Zondra Moberg, Joan Lucas, and Dr. Gertrude Copperman, of Center City, and Sylvia Metzler of North Philadelphia. They range in age from mid-60s to 85,

The Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia, formed a year ago when Grandmother Zondra Moberg become outraged at the senseless deaths, both American and Iraqi, that were happening in Iraq, called some of her friends to a meeting, and a new peace action group was born. Recent actions include demonstrations and leafleting in Rittenhouse Square and at Market Street East, and a massive lobbying effort (100 Grandmothers!) in Washington. Several satellite groups have sprung up in senior living centers around the city and suburbs.

Moberg, and Sylvia Metzler were among 11 Grandmothers arrested for “defiant trespass” when they attempted to enlist in the military on June 28th, 2006, saying “take us, not our grandchildren—we’ve lived our lives, they have a right to live theirs.”

Legs Against Arms, sponsored by the Physicians for Social Responsibility, seeks to begin to change the social norms in Philadelphia that perpetuate violence. The race encourages youth and adults to come together to strengthen their legs as they send a clear message opposing arms in Philadelphia.

Zondra Moberg, an experienced half-marathon runner, has been running races for twenty plus years. She boasts a number of trophies, most recently for first place in her age group in the Philadelphia Distance Run. “I was never very athletic,” says Moberg, “but I was always a big hiker”. About 20 years ago, an athletic trainer turned her onto running, which had recently become a popular sport for women. A grandmother of two, she has run in cities all over the world and loves running in Philadelphia where she can see the sights and sounds of the city.

Dr. Copperman a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and WomenÂ’s Medical College, practiced medicine in the Wynnefield and Bala Cynwyd areas from 1952 until she retired in 1998. A lifelong athlete, she continues to ride her bike, play tennis, ski, roller blade and practice yoga. She is the mother of two daughters and an honorary Great Grandmother of one child.

Sylvia Metzler has been running three miles every other day for 30 years, however, a recent knee injury has kept her away from the sport for almost a year. “The opportunity to run against violence, both in Philadelphia and Iraq, as well as around the world, is a real incentive for me to push myself extra-hard,” she says. Metzler has 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Joan Lukas calls herself an “on and off runner” even though she has run several 5 and 10K races over the last few years. Having just moved to Center City she has not practiced enough, she claims, but was motivated to run in the Legs Against Arms Race by some of the other Grannies. Her one grandchild lives with her and attends college.

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