The Daniel Schultz “Live Life To The Fullest” Honoree

In the spirit of Daniel Schultz, who showed us what it meant to live life to the fullest, we honor an individual who lives courageously with grace, love and determination.  We honor this person and their family for inspiring us all to Live Life to The Fullest in the face of incredible challenges. We, as a community, send you the deepest gratitude for inspiring us to show up and to live life fully!

The 2019 recipient of The Daniel Schultz
“Live Life To The Fullest” Honoree is:

Jeni Voiner

We are honored to remember Jennifer (Jeni) Grace Voiner this year. Originally from Long Island, NY, Jeni attended Ursinus College with a degree in Psychology and Sociology, and went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master’s in Social Work where she met her husband, Jon. Jeni was a loving wife to her husband; dedicated mother to her children Lily (10), Jackson (8), Quinn and Tyler (6); a loving daughter and sister; a friend to countless people; and, a beacon for the entire Radnor community. Her positive spirit, gratefulness, and passion to live life to its fullest was infectious—she touched numerous people, adults and children alike, in her own special way. As a former lacrosse player, she took great pride in her children’s sports, was actively involved in all of her children’s activities, and was a constant presence within Radnor Elementary School where she volunteered in any capacity she could. An accomplished violist with the Main Line Symphony Orchestra, Jeni had an insatiable passion for music which she enjoyed with Jon.

There are no words to express how much Jeni will be missed, but her spirit will live on through her family, friends, and good deeds.

The 2018 recipient of The Daniel Schultz
“Live Life To The Fullest” Honoree is:

Ken Hornbaker

We are honored to be remembering Ken Hornbaker this year. Ken was a loving father to his wife, Tracy and his three sons, Adam, Ryan and Evan. Ken fought pancreatic cancer and his family wishes to dedicate this race to finding a cure and helping those who are also challenged by this diagnosis. For those of you who didn’t have the opportunity to know Ken, Ken was a graduate and huge fan of Penn State. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and after receiving his CPA, he went on to work in Philadelphia for Price Waterhouse and held many other finance positions in his profession. For the past eleven years, he worked at West Pharmaceuticals where he was the Vice President of Finance, Americas and his most recent position was Treasurer. Ken was a devoted father and took great pleasure in attending all of their various sporting events and school functions. He was often seen shooting hoops after he got home from work in the driveway with his boys, which was what he loved most. Ken was also an avid runner and ran some of the Dan’s Down Dog & Dash races. We are honored to be giving back to Ken’s family as he gave to us the years he supported Dan’s Down Dog & Dash.

The 2017 recipient of The Daniel Schultz
“Live Life To The Fullest” Honoree is:

Annie Sears

Dan’s Dash is both honored and excited to announce that our Dan’s Dash Live Life To The Fullest Honoree this year is the Ahhhhhmazing Annie Sears!  Chances are you already know this little warrior who embodies the spirit of grace in the face of incredible challenges, but let us fill you in on just what an incredible inspiration both Annie and the entire Sears family has been to so many people. As a result of an unknown virus, Annie Sears’ liver was failing rapidly.  Within 3 days of being admitted to CHOP, she was in complete liver failure, experiencing encephalopathy, and her parents were told she may not make it through the night.  Thankfully, on March 4, 2014, Annie had a miraculous life saving liver transplant with her mother donating 20% of her liver.  Annie had just turned 8 years old. Not long after her transplant, Annie got a nose bleed that required a blood transfusion.  Blood tests revealed all of Annie’s counts were dangerously low.  In June of 2014 she was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia – a very rare condition in which the bone marrow fails.  Her siblings were not a match for a bone marrow transplant, so she underwent ATG therapy (immunotherapy) on June 16, 2014.  Had that therapy failed, she would have undergone a non-related bone marrow transplant.  The following 2 years were filled with numerous hospitalizations, blood and platelet transfusions, 2 episodes of rejection, bone marrow and liver biopsies, a collapsed lung and chest tube placement, 3 unsuccessful attempts for stent placements, and long courses of IV antibiotics for serious blood infections.  Thankfully, her bone marrow slowly recovered.  On June 29, 2016, she underwent a bile duct reconstruction surgery which revealed that a portion of her new liver was obstructed.  The surgeons created a second bile duct which allowed her liver to finally settle in.  

Through all of this, Annie continued to play soccer and softball with biliary drains and JP drains tucked under her uniform.  She attended school and enjoyed play dates.  She rode her bike, she went to the beach and the pool, and she smiled.  Her dream is to become a nurse at CHOP and work on the floor she spent so much time on as a patient.  She will be on anti rejection medication for the rest of her life. Annie is a miracle.

The 2016 recipient of The Daniel Schultz
“Live Life To The Fullest” Honoree is:

Pete Henkel

Pete has SMA- Spinal Muscular Atrophy- a neuromuscular disease. SMA affects 1 in 10,000 babies and 1 in every 50 americans is a genetic carrier. SMA can affect any race or gender, but does not affect a person’s ability to think, learn and build relationships with others. Pete truly embodied Living Life to the Fullest in the face of incredible challenges, and he and his family continue to be an inspiration to so many!

The 2015 recipient of The Daniel Schultz
“Live Life To The Fullest” Honoree is:

Godfrey Nazareth

 I am a biomedical engineer, and a research scientist by profession. I consider myself to be incredibly blessed to be a part of a wonderful community on the Mainline. I have a beautiful daughter Anya, 8.  In addition to my faith, my family, and my work designing medical devices and formulating pharmaceuticals, some of my passions include the great outdoors, aviation & avionics, robotics, music and theater,  linguistics and semantics, and serving as a Research Fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. When I was still a young graduate student pursuing my Masters in Biomedical Engineering at Drexel University, I begin to notice subtle changes in my balance and speech. After an assortment of tests, painful biopsies and scans lasting over many years, I was diagnosed with a rare form of ALS unique to me; makes me feel special to be one out of over seven billion people! The journey has been difficult and challenging; at times I have had to take things one day, one step, one breath at a time. Thankfully though I have more good days than bad, and even though the prognosis for this condition maybe bleak – I do believe in miracles. I have got big dreams and choose to wake up each morning with a massive burst of hope & optimism, working diligently with a deep conviction that a breakthrough on many levels is imminent. I am tremendously grateful to my friends, my family and our amazing community for their love, prayers & awesome support, they are the wind beneath my wings!

I do not believe in accepting limits, I love to think of the sky as only the beginning! -Godfrey

 The 2014 recipient of The Daniel Schultz
“Live Life To The Fullest” Honoree is:

Michelle Mita Gorelick

Dan’s Down Dog and Dash will honor Michelle and celebrate her family. Michelle was an incredible daughter, sister, wife and mother who dedicated herself to her family and her community.  Sadly, Michelle passed away from colon cancer just last year.  In honoring Michelle this year, we hope to remember the amazing person that she was and celebrate the wonderful impact that she continues to have on her family, friends and our community.

From Michelle’s Family:

“Michelle Mita Gorelick exemplifies someone who lived life to the fullest. She cherished her family and friends and valued spending time with loved ones above all else. The support our family received during her battle with cancer was overwhelming, and we are happy to support an organization that helps families affected by cancer. Michelle’s love for everyone around her is still felt today and our family is honored that she has been chosen to be remembered this year by Dan’s Down Dog and Dash”

The Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.