DPT Class of 2024 Participates in the Physical Therapy Day of Service®
While in Waco for lab immersion, students volunteered in two meaningful projects, Moving for Parkinson’s Disease Fitness Challenge and Bags of Grace. The Physical Therapy Day of Service® event, held on Oct. 21, 2023, is annually promoted by the American Physical Therapy Association.
A co-founder of the international Physical Therapy Day of Service® (PTDOS) asked this question: “What if, on the same day, clinicians, students and associated staff of the physical therapy profession volunteered in different communities around the world?”
According to the PTDOS organization, volunteers from nearly 85 countries have joined together since 2015 to spur positive change within local communities. The event is annually promoted by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and was most recently held on Oct. 21, 2023.
Baylor’s PTDOS events were coordinated by the DPT GOLD committee, a student-led community service organization for the Department. The Class of 2024 gathered in Waco to participate after their lab immersion, and they selected two meaningful projects: Moving for Parkinson’s Disease Fitness Challenge and Bags of Grace.
MOVING FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE FITNESS CHALLENGE
The cohort participated in the Department’s third annual Moving for Parkinson’s Disease Fitness Challenge. Each student secured sponsorships for workout repetitions, and together, raised more than $2,600 for the REBLOOM CENTER in St. Augustine, Florida. To enhance quality of life and potentially slow down the effects of Parkinson’s disease, the nonprofit organization specializes in treating patients by providing resources such as targeted exercise classes, socialization, rehabilitation, and education.
Megan Patterson, SPT, volunteered for the fundraiser. She said challenge’s workouts included lunges, mountain climbers, pushups, split jumps, squats, and squat jumps.
“The REBLOOM CENTER, and locations similar to it, provide extremely meaningful and valuable resources for those who are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease that they may not have otherwise,” Patterson said. “My favorite part about participating in the PT Day of Service was working out with faculty and friends to raise money for those who can’t or for those who will benefit from it!”
BAGS OF GRACE
Bags of Grace is a Texas ministry, based on Matthew 25:35-40, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink … Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Ben McRae, SPT, PTA, serves on the DPT GOLD committee and has personally participated in PTDOSsince 2018. He said the idea to volunteer with Bags of Grace was inspired by Germaine Ferreira, PT, DPT, MSPT, BHMS, Clinical Associate Professor, who had previously partnered with the ministry. The cohort filled Ziplock bags with necessities such as hygiene products, water, and food. Once the task was completed, Ferreira delivered the bags to the ministry so they could be distributed to unhoused people in Central Texas.
“Overall, this event went very well,” McRae said. “My favorite part was coming together as a class, outside of lab hours, to serve a community outside of the one we call home. It was a great showcase to the selflessness of our future profession and a gauge on how my classmates and I are truly gratified by helping others.”
