Students Excited for 26th Annual UKDPT 5K Walk/Run
By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director
“This 5K is an opportunity to continue our school’s legacy, raise money for our cohort, and encourage active lifestyles. In addition to that, this 5K is a really fun event.”
That’s how Jared Rowe explains Saturday’s 26th Annual UK Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) 5K Walk/Run.
“This is a fundraising event to help pay for our board exams,” said Rowe, a 24-year-old Fort Mitchell, Ky., native, and a third-year student in the DPT program. “Any money we make from our fundraising goes towards our composite headshot photos, our board review class, and our board exams. But beyond raising money, we want to continue the legacy of this 5K.”
Rowe, the president of the third-year cohort, helped plan the event, which will take place 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, at Coldstream Dog Park.
“We are definitely still interested in people signing up,” Rowe said. “For our class, last minute sign-ups are greatly appreciated.”
Overall, Rowe said, the class hopes people understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
“As future physical therapists, our job is to promote healthy and active lifestyles for our patients,” he said. “Through our treatments, we want to help patients get back to their activities of daily living. Whether it’s walking, running, gardening, or taking care of loved ones, we want our patients to be able to do their daily tasks easily and without pain.”
Rowe was also an undergraduate in Health Sciences, majoring in Human Health Sciences on the pre-physical therapy track.
“When I was in high school, my little cousin underwent a bone marrow transplant at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital,” he said. “From that experience, I saw the lasting impact that healthcare professionals can have on patients and family members. After that experience, I looked for a place that would best prepare me to help patients and family members in my community, and I found that in UK’s College of Health Sciences.”
Rowe said he’s looking forward to the many friends, family and faculty who will come out to support the students.
“Through many of our sponsors, we will have snacks, giveaways and raffles for our participants,” he said. “A couple local PT companies will be there, which provides a networking opportunity for both current and prospective PT students. We always have many friends and family members that come to the race, which is a cool experience.”
For more information on the race, visit runsignup.com/Race/KY/Lexington/UKDPTRunForYourLife