LB Water Team a Top Fundraiser for Ta-Ta Trot

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The fundraising efforts of a group of employees from Selinsgrove-based LB Water Service Inc., an industry leader in supplying waterworks infrastructure solutions to cities, counties, municipalities and businesses throughout the mid-Atlantic region, were among the top of participating groups in the 10th Annual Ta-Ta Trot in Selinsgrove. 

Through the contributions of its passionate employees, the company raised a total of $450 for this year’s event. LB Water also served as one of the event’s Silver sponsors.

The annual event, which is held in July, included an opening ceremony, a 5K trot and a prize ceremony. In total, trotters raised more than $4,500, which was donated to Evangelical Community Hospital's Thyra M. Humphreys Center for Breast Health, Geisinger Health System's Marie Lamey Fund, PA Breast Cancer Coalition or the Penn State Cancer Institute.

“I’m so honored to work for a company that understands the importance of breast cancer awareness,” said Jolene Dreese, an LB Water employee and one of the company’s Ta-Ta Trotters. “Breast cancer is taking our loved ones from us at an alarming rate, so to play even a small role in raising money for awareness means a lot to me.”

Dreese received a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 44 in 2001 and was able to overcome the disease in part because of early detection. Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky. 

A close friend of Dreese’s lost her battle to breast cancer at the age of 42, leaving behind a 5-year-old child—a reminder that cancer does not discriminate by age.

Since its inaugural event in 2009, the Selinsgrove Ta-Ta Trot has raised more than $400,000 for breast cancer awareness, an amount Dreese hopes will continue to grow in the coming years.

A member of LB Water’s Finance department, Dreese said her organizational goal for the 2020 Ta-Ta Trot is to raise a total of $2,020 and to add to the number of company employees who participate.

“I thank God for getting me through my bout with breast cancer and allowing my case to be the type that can be fought and conquered,” she added. “That’s not always the case, but if we keep doing events around the country like the Ta-Ta Trot right here in Selinsgrove, I believe we will eventually find a cure.”

“Many of us have been impacted by breast cancer in some way,” said Shawn Pulford, President and CEO, LB Water. “As an organization that takes pride in calling Selinsgrove home, we think it’s important to continue being active within our community and to identify causes that our employees are passionate about. I couldn’t be prouder of our Ta-Ta Trotters.”