URI Physical Therapy students to host Run Your Life 5K

March 26, 2019

April 14 event to spotlight to healthy lifestyles, need to address opioid crisis

By Ross Balding

Physical therapy is often seen as a safer alternative to opioid prescriptions for pain management. Aiming to raise awareness of the devastating opioid crisis in Rhode Island and the benefits of healthy alternatives, students in the Physical Therapy Department are organizing the Run Your Life 5k on Sunday, April 14.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the 5k is a walk/run, which will also raise money for the Jim Gillen Teen Center, an organization that assists recovering youth with opioid problems and is part of The Providence Center. The race is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon, with registration taking place on the quad beginning at 8:30 a.m. Runners/walkers can also register beforehand.

Accompanying the 5K will be the Healthy Lifestyles Expo, featuring physical therapy professionals and students from various colleges. The local physical therapy professionals will have booths for students interested in their wide range of specialties. Students from throughout the Academic Health Collaborative will also be participating. Pharmacy students will  be there to talk about naloxone use; Nutrition students will discuss the importance of a good diet; and Nursing students will be performing general health screenings.

Mark Cardelli, a recovered opioid addict will be a guest speaker at the expo. He will talk about his experience and how he used running as a way to beat his addiction.

The event is being organized by second-year DPT student Erin Sayles. Last year was the first time this now annual event took place, being started by fellow DPT student Lynne Hibbard. Both the 5K and the Expo are in response to the American Physical Therapy Association’s national #ChoosePT campaign, which advocates for Physical Therapy as an alternative to opioids.

“I’m glad I have this opportunity to help the Jim Gillen Teen Center in a way that I am passionate about,” said Sayles.

Ross Balding is a senior journalism major and intern with the Academic Health Collaborative.