Monday, July 14, 2025
Filomena Ladisa had never participated in a walkathon in her nine decades of life before putting on her sandals and joining the Life Enrichment Centers Wellness Walk fundraiser.
The two-week fundraiser began with its kickoff walk on June 2. The 1.1-mile walk completed by Filomena started at the enrichment center, the group then walked down to Teddy Roosevelt Park, finishing Audrey Avenue. “I felt very comfortable,” Filomena said, reflecting on the walk. “My daughter pushed me through. She pushes me to go do things a lot.”
The walkathon fundraisers began four years ago, during Covid-19, as a way to encourage seniors to be more active. Filomena’s participation was due to her daughter’s insistence on being more active at the center. “You have to go more,” Benedetta Ladisa, Filomena’s daughter, recalled telling her mom. “She enjoys it when she goes. Everyone’s so supportive.”
Registration for the event is $30, and it is held during the first two weeks of June. Individuals can donate to either an individual or a team.
“We were with her to the end, and she had our police escort,” Nicole Kelleher, the center’s interim program manager, said. Ann Balderston-Glynn, the center’s head of development and marketing, was alongside the group in a golf cart. Filomena enthusiastically agreed to take a photo with the police officer, according to Balderston-Glynn.
“She’s dying to have a picture, and she wants to know if you’re cute,” Balderston-Glynn recalled telling the officer. “It was adorable. He took a photo with her, and I think they were excited.”
Kelleher and Balderston-Glynn praised the Nassau County Police Department, expressing gratitude for the relationship between the department and the center. Kelleher said, “It’s nice that we have such a great relationship with the Nassau County police officers that they can come out and help the center and not only give us our support but also give our members the support.”
Filomena had nothing but positive things to say about her experience in the walkathon. Looking to the future, she said she plans to participate in it as many times as possible. “If I’m here, why not,” she said. “I just focus on walking.”
The Life Enrichment Center offers a wide range of programs and services for older adults. Located on East Main Street, the agency provides exercise, lunch, transportation, social services, activities, health and wellness programs, and socialization, according to its website.
As a nonprofit agency, the center relies on donations and fundraising events to raise funds.
Filomena has been at the center for six years, according to her daughter. Her Italian parents immigrated from the United States to Greece in the early 1900s; she was born in Greece in 1930.
One of seven children, she lived in Greece until she was 13 and immigrated back to Italy. She met her husband in Florence and had three sons. She lived in Florence for another 12 years before immigrating to the United States during the 1940s due to the turmoil caused by World War II.
Her husband worked as a barber, while she worked as a seamstress for approximately 40 years until her retirement. She lived in Astoria for 40 years and moved to Oyster Bay around 12 years ago.
“She’s inspirational,” Kelleher said. “She just celebrated her 95th birthday. To see her doing the full mile was nice, and it made me remember that just because you grow old doesn’t mean that you’re not able to do stuff.”
Filomena celebrated her birthday in April at the center, which was packed with older adults, family, her aide, government officials, and live music. Jeffrey Pravato, the Town of Oyster Bay’s receiver of taxes, and Town Councilwoman Vicki Walsh presented Ladisa with a citation from the town.
“This woman does not give up. You tell her we’re going to go here, she says, let’s go.” Benedetta said of her mother. “I couldn’t believe she walked the mile. She was very proud of herself, and we were very proud of her.”
For more information on how to donate, visit the Life Enrichment Center at 45 E. Main St. in Oyster Bay, visit its website at LifeEnrichmentCenterOysterBay.org, or call (516) 922-1770.
