D.P.T. Students Raise Nearly $4,000 During 23rd Annual Race for Rehab
The students raised money for Achilles International to support athletes with disabilities.
Students from New York Medical College’s (NYMC) Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) Class of 2023 did not let COVID-19-related constraints stop them from raising nearly $4,000 at the 23rd Annual Race for Rehab during the week of October 10. The 5K race, which was virtual this year, supports Achilles International, a not-for-profit organization which provides a community of support to athletes with disabilities.
Twenty-three Achilles athletes participated in the race in the walking, running, handcycle and wheelchair categories, along with an additional twenty-five participants, including students and alumni, who either ran or walked the 5K. Instead of traditionally running the race on NYMC’s Valhalla campus, participants ran the race any time between October 10 and October 17 at their location of choice and logged their times on the Race for Rehab website.
A virtual awards ceremony capped off the event announcing the winners in each category, including Achilles athletes, alumni, as well as male and female finishers in different age categories.
D.P.T. students sold official race tee shirts, organized a fundraiser at a local restaurant and collected online donations to raise $3,865 for Achilles International, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the organization.
The students had to pivot from planning an in-person event to virtual event, which is an opportunity they used for digital donations. “Their fundraising was more creative this year due to pandemic precautions and the current hybrid nature of work and learning at NYMC,” said Janet P. Dolot, M.S., D.P.T., Dr.P.H. ’14, PT, OCS, assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, who is one of the faculty advisors for the Race for Rehab.
This is the second consecutive year that the race has been virtual, but it didn’t slow down the D.P.T. students from hosting a successful event and supporting a worthy cause.