The Joey’s Wings Foundation hosted its 5th annual Joey’s Run on March 9. Mary Houston, an avid REACH group participant, completed the 5K for the second time. The student-led Rehabilitation Education Activity and Community Health (REACH) groups provide rehabilitation, injury prevention and wellness services throughout the community, and Mary actively participates in the walks, classes and events.
This year, she asked Jordan Weise, a second-year DPT student, to walk with her during the 5K.
Mary knows Jordan from Gaitor Challenge where she often walks the routes with him. She is one of the department’s passionate community activity supporters – she participates in Gaitor Challenge, Community Health Balance classes, and she also attends the Parkinson’s boxing classes. Mary has been working tirelessly to bring in new participants to our initiatives and is an outstanding example of commitment to exercise and activity to support her health.
She has an essential tremor and has fallen in the past on a 5K when she tried to walk faster. As a testament to Gaitor Challenge and the various programs she attends, and with the help of Jordan, Mary completed the 5K and achieved her best time yet – 1 hour and 1 minute.