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USC resident’s annual birthday workout raises money for Rotary

By Trista Thurston staff Writer tthurston@thealmanac.Net 4 min read
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Most people look forward to their 21st birthday. Fewer are excited for 50 or 60 to come around.

“It’s not a fun birthday,” Upper St. Clair resident Larry Lehman said of that milestone half-a-century birthday.

So a few months before it rolled around, Lehman got to thinking.

“No, there’s no reason to look at it like that.”

How could he make turning 50 more fun? He wanted to make aging a positive experience and was inspired by his mother-in-law, who continued going to the gym regularly into her 90s.

Lehman is physically active, too, and chatted with friends at the gym about ideas. He tossed around doing 500 pushups and 500 situps in 50 minutes. Most laughed.

But he thought he’d at least give it a good attempt. That first year, a decade ago now, he made that lofty goal with about two minutes to spare.

Lehman gave himself another incentive, to raise money for Rotary International. He reached out to co-workers and friends, and many pledged a penny or two per pushup or crunch. He estimates that he’s since raised thousands for Rotary since he began.

From there, the practice became an annual tradition. The previous two years, Lehman injured himself playing hockey and couldn’t do the fundraiser. This year, he stopped playing hockey to focus solely on the 60th birthday effort.

Lehman said he trained harder for this year than any other and aimed for 600 crunches and 600 pushups in 60 minutes, a goal he proudly accomplished.

“I would love to figure out a way for people to make this a habit,” Lehman said.

Photo courtesy of Larry Lehman

Photo courtesy of Larry Lehman

Larry Lehman does pushups Sept. 16 to raise funds for Rotary.

It’s important to remain active and if you do something annually that’s pretty challenging, because it’s more likely you wouldn’t let yourself get out of shape in between, Lehman said. He hits the gym three times a week, does yoga once a week and enjoys kayaking when the weather is right. He realizes that he’s incredibly fortunate, but also knows it takes motivation and dedication.

“If all you do is sit around and watch TV, all you’ll be able to do is sit around and watch TV. The human body was made to move,” Lehman said.

Of course, there’s also the philanthropic motive. Rotary International is ranked one of the all-time top charities through Charity Navigator, a website that assesses nonprofits in the United States, so Lehman said people can feel good knowing their money will be used properly. He’s been a Rotarian for more than a decade. Originally reluctant to join, he said it’s one of the best groups of people to get involved with. He enjoys connecting at the Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Rotary Club meetings, 7 a.m. each Tuesday.

The group will be holding its Annual Chicken Barbecue on Sept. 29 where the group cooks and sells 3,000 meals to donate money to various charities. The event runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2040 Washington Rd. just south of South Hills Village mall. A $12 ticket gets half of a flame-grilled BBQ chicken, BBQ baked beans, cole slaw, Three Saints cookies and a roll with butter.

The funds will be used to benefit Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, cancer survivors, drinking water wells in Central America, Military Connections, the purchase of “Zach Packs” for families of child cancer patients, support for Our Clubhouse, South Hills Interfaith Movement, YMCA Camp Aim for challenged individuals, support for local police departments by purchasing bulletproof vests, support for groups that help abused children, Washington City Mission as well as funds to assist in the eradication of Polio.

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