NEWS & EVENTS
Press Releases – 2006
March 30, 2006
Wheel Run 2006
(Grand Rapids, MI) On Saturday April 1, 2006 area wheelchair athletes, runners, and walkers, will converge on the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University to help buy wheelchairs for people in need.
The Grand Valley State University's physical therapy students are proud to announce the 10th Annual Wheel Run Together 5K Challenge and 1-Mile Fun Walk benefiting Alternatives in Motion, a local nonprofit organization that purchases wheelchairs for individuals with no health insurance or other financial means.
This tradition started in 1997 when a group of students wanted to provide an opportunity for wheelchair and running athletes to enjoy a fun and challenging event together. Race organizers from last year's event were able to contribute $6,000 to help Alternatives in Motion achieve their mission.
This year is the 10th year of giving wheelchairs away for Alternatives in Motion as well as the 10th year for the race. In celebration of this milestone, race organizers are hoping to raise $10,000 from this event. "We are very pleased to be working with the students again this year. These people have some of the biggest hearts and are behind our mission 100 percent," said Alternatives in Motion founder, Johnnie Tuitel.
The race is planed entirely by graduate students in the Physical Therapy program at GVSU. Sarah Benson, this year's race coordinator said, "I have been so pre-occupied with all the Wheel Run chaos this week, it has been difficult for me to concentrate in class! But I am super excited!"
This year's race is sponsored by: Achieve Physical Therapy, Big O' Café, Mike Marks Graphics, MTG Mobility, Saint Mary's Home Care and Spectrum Health.
The race begins at 9:00a.m. near the clock tower. For more information please visit www.alternativesinmotion.org or call Sarah Benson, Wheel Run Together race coordinator at (616) 633-1226.