Schaller Runs 13th Boston Marathon for the Dayton Area Chapter, raising nearly $500,000

Walter Schaller, Board Member Emeritus of Dayton Chapter of the American Red Cross Continues to Run Marathons Supporting the Red Cross 2009  -  Walter Schaller was born in 1936, one of fourteen children in Zeneggen, Switzerland, a small town of 250, near the Matterhorn. After majoring in hotel management in Berne, Schaller relocated to Canada at the age of 20 and subsequently rmoved to Dayton, Ohio, where he met his wife and raised three children.

At age 55, Walter returned to his birthplace in a second attempt to climb the Matterhorn and was forced by a snowstorm to abort his quest 500 feet short of the summit. In preparation for the climb, he turned to running to build his stamina - so began a passion.

Walter's involvement with the American Red Cross and Boston Marathon began in 1997. Initially establishing a goal of raising $1,500 in pledges, Walter raised more than $21,000 in his first race. The following year, Walter established a permanent endowment fund for the Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. Thirteen years later, donations to the "Schaller Runner's Fund" now approach $500,000.

Walter completed his thirteenth Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, 2008. His personal efforts of endurance continue to benefit local families who are helped through the American Red Cross' Dayton Area Chapter disaster relief fund.

Walter Schaller is currently a Board Member Emeritus of the Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. He can be reached at 937-477-0094 and maintains a website of his experiences at www.schallerrunnersfund.com.


If you are interested in conducting a fundraiser to support the Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, please call our Development Office at 937-222-6711, ext 10 or email ssparks@dac.redcross.org.