Washington Lawyer - January 2017 - 33


"When I go out there and talk to
people about it, I can say, look, the
money that was raised here directly
helps me, and there are many
more people out there like me who
need help."
- Anne Dailey, Troutman Sanders LLP
the event, which makes for a real nice break and a real
complement to the relationships you develop in the
office," he says.

the first step into a long journey of improving your
health while benefiting the American Heart
Association."

A BROADER COMMUNITY

For Marwell, the race is a chance for legal professionals
to step outside their office and connect with others.
"A lot of attorneys interact every day on the phone
and over email, and sometimes they're on the other
side of cases. But when you see the legal community
at the event, everyone there in their brightly colored
firm t-shirts having fun and putting the law aside for
the day to do something good for their health and
raise a lot of money for a really important cause, I think
that's a nice reminder that we live in a broader
community here," he says.

Kathryne Dickerson, an associate at Wiley Rein LLP,
says the event fosters a greater sense of camaraderie
among those at her firm. Wiley Rein hosts a launch
party for the race, giving attorneys and staff an
opportunity to connect, learn about AHA and
Lawyers Have Heart, and to register. The firm also puts
on a t-shirt design contest for the team's race shirt.
Those connections also are felt on the race course.
"We have a large team, and when we see each other
on the course we cheer each other on, and that's a lot
of fun," Dickerson says. "There's also a friendly rivalry
with other firms; you compare your race team t-shirts
and chuckle at the humor and creativeness. It's also a
great opportunity to see people you may know
through law school or at another firm, so it's a really
great way to meet and reconnect with people you
haven't seen in a while or since the last race."
The race is followed by a reception at Georgetown
Harbor, allowing runners and walkers to rest, recharge,
and mingle. Some teams get together for brunches
and parties. For many participants, getting out, being
active, connecting with peers, and finishing a race for
a cause are the big incentives.
"We have a social responsibility as lawyers to
contribute to society in general, and this is one way to
do it," says Affie Ambrose, general counsel for
Acumen Solutions and president-elect of the
Association of Corporate Counsel-National Capital
Region. "If you've never run a race before, this can be

Not a runner and hesitant to join? "It doesn't matter
how fast you are," says Dailey. "It does matter that
you're out there and you're supporting the event.
You're literally voting with your feet to run with
Lawyers Have Heart and support the American Heart
Association."
For people on the fence, Dailey has a final comment:
"If I can do this, you can do this."

Reach Jeffery Leon at jleon@dcbar.org. Follow him on
Twitter @JLeonDCBar.

Read a Q&A with Lawyers Have Heart
cofounder Richard Frank at dcbar.org/news.
Visit lawyershaveheartdc.org to sign up for
the June 10, 2017, race.

* WASHINGTON LAWYER * JANUARY 2017 33
https://www.dcbar.org/about-the-bar/news/lawyers-have-heart-richard-frank.cfm http://www.dcbar.org/news http://www.lawyershaveheartdc.org http://www.dcbar.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Washington Lawyer - January 2017
