Supporting Those ‘Who Risk Their Lives to Keep Us Safe’

Team Foot Levelers was honored to kick off an unprecedented partnership with the brave men and women of Roanoke Fire-EMS this week, our hometown’s first responders. One-hundred and sixty-five of the Star City’s finest will be product-testing a new Foot Levelers orthotic top cover, designed for the toughest jobs and lifestyles!

The Roanoke Press Corps was also out in force to help share the news with our community. Check out some of their recent stories:

• From WSLS Channel 10: “Foot Levelers Gives Back to Roanoke Firefighters“
• From WDBJ Channel 7: “Foot Levelers Partners with Roanoke Fire-EMS to Test Product Improvement“
• From WSET Channel 13: “Firefighters Get Custom Orthotics from Foot Levelers“
• From The Roanoke Times: “Foot Levelers Enlists Firefighters to Test New Orthotics“
• From WFIR Talk Radio: “Roanoke Firefighters Receive Free Custom Orthotics During Test“
• And look for a piece from WFXR Channel 21 coming soon too!

“Roanoke Fire-EMS is excited to partner with Foot Levelers on this exciting opportunity,” said Roanoke Fire-EMS Chief David Hoback. “We can’t wait to see how these custom products will benefit our firefighters.”

“Every new Foot Levelers product and product element must go through an intensive series of tests,” said Steve Stone, Foot Levelers Senior Vice President… “There aren’t many folks who work in tougher environments or who are harder on their feet and bodies than first responders; plus, as a company, we’re always looking for ways to give back…What better way than to support the selfless men and women who are out there every day risking their lives to keep us safe?”

Good news for our firefighters, who frequently suffer from back pain: a major clinical trial to be published in The Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation conclusively shows that Low Back Pain improves with Foot Levelers custom orthotics. We’ll be sharing more on this exciting development soon!

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon: The Results are In!

The results are in!

America’s Toughest Road Marathon just keeps getting bigger, with 2,507 registered runners–an 11% increase over last year; 600 volunteers, a brand new (official) double marathon, 10 non-profit race beneficiaries, plus runners hailing from 43 states and nine countries.

Even though warnings of severe weather forced organizers to cancel the event about five hours in, reviews were glowing (thanks, folks!).

Runner Elizabeth R. Bain of California said this about the race in The Roanoke Times: “What really made this course shine (besides the gorgeous views from the tops of the mountains)? YOU, Roanoke! From the volunteers handing out bibs and shirts at packet pick-up, to the mimosa ‘aid station,’ to the guy driving the bus where I took my DNF [did not finish], everyone was so kind and friendly! Even though I’m a slow, back-of-the-pack runner, every aid station had cheers and cowbells and plenty of aid station supplies for me.”

Foot Levelers booth at the Marathon Expo Friday before the race

 

Our employee-volunteers preparing for the influx of runners at the Star Aid Station

Runners near the Star Aid Station pose for a quick picture at the Mill Mountain overlook

We’re proud to support this incredible event every year, and congratulate all who dared to run America’s Toughest Road Marathon. An extra loud shout-out goes to our employees who got up at the crack of dawn to participate as runners or volunteer at the Star aid station!

It takes a village to host a marathon (Foot Levelers peeps in yellow giving out water, snacks, cheers and high fives to runners at the Star Aid Station)

 

Numbers about the economic impact should be out soon. Last year, the marathon generated more than $592,000, and over the past seven years, the it’s added more than $3.2 million to the local economy.

Our man Barto (center, in black) chugging up Mill Mountain along with other runners. Credit: The Roanoke Times.

Congratulations runners, thank you volunteers, and kudos to organizers from the Roanoke Regional Partnership for another world-class event!

Tammy and her daughter after the event

Some of our employee runners ready for the race: L-R, Barto, Scott, Tyler, Mike and Wayne

We’re Racing for the Cure and We Hope You Will, Too: Susan G. Komen & Foot Levelers

Meanwhile back at the ranch in Roanoke, Virginia, Foot Levelers’ hometown….

L-R: Elizabeth Hand, Mission Coordinator, and Catherine Warren, Executive Director of Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge

We welcomed two very special guests yesterday, Catherine and Elizabeth from Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge chapter. Elizabeth spoke to our employees about breast care and early warning signs of breast cancer, while Catherine was busy signing up employees for the Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge Race for the Cure on April 29th (a week after the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon).

Susan G. Komen’s mission is to “save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.” They do incredible, life-saving work raising awareness and if — when — a cure is developed, it will be thanks in part to the millions that Komen invests in research.  Now that’s a mission we can get behind.

sign up sheets

listening to Elizabeth’s presentation

Komen: More than Pink

Foot Levelers encourages all our employees to Race for the Cure, and we make it easy by covering everyone’s registration fees. That way folks can focus on what’s important: raising money for Komen!

A big shout out and thank you to Catherine and Elizabeth for their time today (and for the cupcakes!)!

 

Tickled Pink

Every year Foot Levelers employees show their support for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink…We’re also enthusiastic supporters of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

About 1 in 8 women in the United States will get breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. The good news is that many women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. Click on the highlighted text to learn more about early detection and treatment options at The American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen.

Foot Levelers, Footmaxx Donate Over 700 Pairs of Shoes to Wildfire Victims

Foot Levelers has a lot of friends and customers in Canada, so when we heard about the devastating wildfire in the province of Alberta, we wanted to help.

The fire, which ignited May 1 and was brought under control July 5,

L-R, Chris and Josh work together to pack up the shoe donation at Foot Levelers’ headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia

forced Canada’s largest-ever evacuation–90,000 people in the region were forced to flee, many of them to Edmonton, Alberta’s capital city about four hours drive south from rural Fort McMurry. More than 1.4 million acres of land and 2,400 homes and other buildings were destroyed.

The donation arrived at Edmonton Emergency Relief Services on  July 8th, full of new, high-quality footwear for men, women and children from brands like Franco Sarto, Clarks, P.W. Minor, Aetrex, Florsheim, and Acorn. The 704 pairs are estimated at about $75,000 USD retail value.

“Footmaxx has a long history of serving the people of Northern Alberta,” said Steve Stone, General Manager of Footmaxx. “Our hearts go out to those who have lost so much. We’re honored to have the opportunity to help in our own way.”

One front of the Fort McMurry wildfire photographed on May 7th by Jonathan Hayward/AP

Foot Levelers Senior Vice President, Dawn Galbraith, added: “The hardship that the people of Northern Alberta are facing is unimaginable, and we at Foot Levelers are eager to help. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are suffering.”

“Edmonton Emergency Relief Services would like to thank Footmaxx and Foot Levelers for their generous donation of over 700 pairs of new shoes to help support the relief efforts for the evacuees of the wildfire,” said Nicole Geoffroy, Media Relations for Edmonton Emergency Relief Services. “We appreciate all of their support in helping all the evacuee families receive these greatly needed items.”

Shoes arrive at the relief center

 

 

America’s Toughest Road Marathon Needs YOU!

On April 16th, hundreds of runners from all over the world will descend upon Foot Levelers’ hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, for the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon, also known as America’s toughest road marathon.

And it’s not “just” the race. Down by Downtown is a three-day celebration of music with more than 50 acts performing at iconic local venues including the stunning Elmwood Park Amphitheater and at the marathon finish line.

Not a runner, but still want to get involved? Not a problem.

Consider joining the team that makes it happen.  It takes over 500 volunteers to pull off the big event, and there are still plenty of spots left.  So pick a time and job description that suits you and come join the fun!!

If you’re coming from out of town, check out our Visitor’s Center for lots of great advice on where to sleep, eat, and other things to see and do in our gorgeous little corner of the world. We can’t wait to host you!

Giving Back

Behind the scenes at Foot Levelers… Here are a few shots from yesterday, when team members loaded up our truck with donations for the Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter and more serving Foot Levelers’ hometown of Roanoke, Virginia.   All told, we gave the Mission 16 15-lb. turkeys, 20 lbs. of hamburger and 49 of our therapeutic pillows.

Giving is an important part of Foot Levelers’ culture. To learn more, visit http://www.FootLevelers.com.

Meet Our Marathon Volunteers: Laura Ash

Nine days and counting until the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon! We’re pleased to introduce Laura, one of our most enthusiastic marathon volunteers. Laura helps man the Mill Mountain aid station where runners refuel with water and snacks around mile 12.

Name: Laura Ash

Years with Foot Levelers: 17

Role at Foot Levelers: “Layout Technician. When 3D foot scans or foam casting kits arrive [with foot impressions from patients], I look at the image and what the doctor says, and I design the orthotics,” based on Foot Levelers’ proprietary method.

Role at the Blue Ridge Marathon: “I hand out the water and snacks on top of Mill Mountain and I’m a cheerleader.”

Runners crossing the starting line at the 2014 Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon

What made you decide to volunteer? “The very first year I volunteered for the Workout for Payout points” [credits that Foot Levelers offers employees toward free health insurance, days off, and other goodies, earned by eating healthy, exercising, and volunteering].  “But once I got up there to Mill Mountain, I got caught up!

It’s amazing to me: watching that first wave of runners; they’re like a wave of gazelles. Then the people with physical challenges come—and it’s so inspiring…Last year there was a gentleman in a wheelchair; he had no use of his legs, he was doing it all with his arms…

All your life from this high you hear, ‘you can do whatever you put your mind to.’ Some of these runners are disabled, some of them are not so young–they’re older than I am! So seeing them out there reminds you that ‘yes, you really can do whatever you put your mind to.’ It brings that to life.”

How do you feel about Foot Levelers’ involvement in the marathon? “It makes me proud to be part of Foot Levelers, because the marathon brings so much to Roanoke, and we’re giving back to a community that has given so much to us.  We’re also showing people how our orthotics can help, whether you’re a professional athlete or just running around the block for fun.”

What are your favorite orthotics? “I like the InMotion… I have them in the shoes I’m wearing right now. I’ll be wearing them on race day too!”

Laura Ash