News

July 21, 2009

WNEP meteorologist off and running in bike event

Joe Snedeker completes first 100-mile leg of “Go Joe XII” to benefit St. Joseph’s Center.

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOboyle on Twitter

HARVEYS LAKE -- WNEP-TV meteorologist Joe Snedeker has completed the first 100-mile leg of “Go Joe XII” – a 600-mile bike ride through Northeastern Pennsylvania to help raise money for the St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton.

Snedeker began the first day of the six-day journey atop Elk Mountain on Monday morning and arrived at the Harveys Lake Beach Club at 6:14 p.m. Monday evening. Snedeker will complete his ride Saturday evening when he arrives at the 27th annual St. Joe’s Festival on the campus of Marywood University.

About 300 people greeted Snedeker at Harveys Lake, many holding signs of support and others dropping off donations for the fundraising campaign.

“This isn’t possible without the support of all these people,” Snedeker said. “Without the people, I’m just a dork on a bike.”

Sister Terry O’Rourke, president of St. Joseph’s Children’s Center, said Snedeker and WNEP-TV Channel 16 are like family to the staff and residents of the 111-year-old facility.

“With the money we raised last year, we were able to replace all the windows at the center,” O’Rourke said. “In past years this event has allowed us to purchase therapeutic equipment for our residents, and this year we will apply the funds to general operations and special programs.”

O’Rouke said St. Joseph’s opened as an orphanage in 1888 and today “strives to be a sign of hope to individuals and families who have special needs.” Today, individuals diagnosed with mental retardation or a developmental delay, pregnant women, young families, couples hoping to adopt and people who require outpatient therapy can find help at St. Joseph’s Center, she said.

WNEP will air the St. Joe’s Telethon this weekend, and O’Rourke said she hopes the event will raise more than $200,000 – including proceeds from Snedeker’s bike ride.

“The money we raise enhances everything we do at St. Joe’s,” O’Rourke said.

St. Joe’s has 87 children residing in its main center and another 57 children are served in group homes, O’Rourke said.

“Joe Snedeker and Channel 16 have offered amazing support for our mission,” she said. “They not only raise needed dollars for us, they raise awareness of our mission throughout their viewing area.”

Snedeker said he was a little late arriving at Harveys Lake because he experienced a tire blowout about five miles from his destination.

“Don’t litter,” he told the crowd.

Snedeker said he is motivated every year – this is the 12th for the bike ride – by the children that St. Joe’s serves.

“Knowing that we can make their lives a little bit better is the thrill of the ride for me,” he said.

“Go Joe XII” will take the cause of St. Joseph’s throughout WNEP’s 17-county viewing area. Snedeker and WNEP are hoping to build on the 10-year total of more than $1 million for the severely mentally and physically challenged children and young adults of St. Joe’s.

In past years, “Go Joe” has taken Snedeker to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cincinnati, Ohio; the Jersey Shore of Atlantic City, N.J.; Plymouth Rock, Mass.; and Kitty Hawk, N.C.

Fans are invited to join WNEP at planned checkpoints along the way. They will know Snedeker is coming when they see a decorated RV displaying the “Go Joe” logo as it rolls through their town.

This RV will drive in advance of Snedeker and will set up at the noon and evening checkpoints. Viewers are encouraged to go to one of these locations to see Joe and make their donations.

Because of safety concerns, Snedeker asks that viewers refrain from attempting to join him on his ride.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.

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