SUN Center, athletes raise funds for disabled
USU Eastern’s SUN Center and athletic department were key players in the Active Re-Entry’s 9th Annual Run, Walk and Roll Marathon on Sept. 23, in Price. Over $13,200 was raised by the 107 participants, said Liz Martinez from Activie ReEntry
According to Terry Johnson, SUN Center director, 40 people from the USU Eastern community gave $15 each to sponsor the 58-race participants in the Annual 5K race. Some sponsored more than one runner.
USU Eastern’s SUN Center and athletic department were key players in the Active Re-Entry’s 9th Annual Run, Walk and Roll Marathon on Sept. 23, in Price. Over $13,200 was raised by the 107 participants, said Liz Martinez from Activie ReEntry
According to Terry Johnson, SUN Center director, 40 people from the USU Eastern community gave $15 each to sponsor the 58-race participants in the Annual 5K race. Some sponsored more than one runner.
We needed participants who were in fairly good shape so the athletic department took on our challenge. This helped on at least three levels: assisted our student athletes to be better prepared for their games, served those in need in the community and brought a smile to your own heart, he said.
One half of the baseball team showed up to run that morning as well as basketball players. Active Re-Entry didn’t turn them away and let them run for the cause. Coach Paur offered to make up the difference between the 48 sponsorships we had collected and the 58 that actually ran, but we didn’t feel that was necessary as the physical support was a big help, Johnson said. Besides that, a few extra bodies meant there were more there to buy bread, pies, donation tickets, etc., so it was all good.
Thirteen of the sponsorships were donated by cosmetology students who also ran. Associate professors, “Debbie Pritchard and Linda Davis are so supportive every year of this cause,” he said. At least 17 students helped with the raffle and sold 47 ticket books which raised $470 along with certificates for haircuts and manicures which will raise another $500 towards helping individuals stay independent.
Active ReEntry’s Nancy Bentley said it best as she and I were talking that morning about our soon-to-be-arriving USU Eastern runners, and at that moment (as if on cue), Johnson continued, Paur drove up in the USU Eastern bus, whereupon Bentley exclaimed «A bus! You brought a bus load? I›ve got to go grab my camera and get a picture of this» as she scurried off to find it.
Committee Chair Dorothy Carter, said, “Unfortunately, this past year, the state has given a limit amount towards our assistive technology program. This has left a huge waiting list of individuals who wish to remain living independent in their own homes and community. To help them achieve this wish we sponsor the Run, Walk and Roll 5K in the hopes of raising enough money to do repairs on motorized equipment, such as power wheel chairs and scooters as well as purchasing tires, batteries, walkers, grab bar and etc…”
All proceeds go to the program ran by Active Re-Entry. No administration cost is taken out with 100 percent of sponsorship going to this program. She also appreciated the cosmetology department for their assistance in the run. “A great big shout of thanks goes out to the cosmetology department and their advisers.”
