The Celebration of Wellness 5K event was a huge success as many turned out in support. The Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine Student Government Association hosted the annual event October 1, 2022 at the Major Taylor Velodrome (Indy Cycloplex). The annual race raised more than $2000 for the non-profit homeless advocacy organization Back on My Feet.
Ryan Wonderlin, M.S., second-year medical student and vice president and director of clinical outreach called the event, hugely successful. “It was largely thanks to the amazing team of volunteers that dedicated their Saturday morning to help ensure the race ran smoothly he said.
Marian University's student body also showed up in droves to participate and support the Back on My Feet organization and the Changing Footprints charity non-profit which collects shoes and distributes them to homeless, disaster-stricken, and underprivileged people at home and around the world regardless of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity.
“I am proud to have helped lead the charge for the event because I have a personal relationship with the men going through the program in the Back on My Feet organization, Alyssa Ritter ’25, Marian medical student said. I have the opportunity to volunteer with them very early Wednesday mornings for a run/walk. I see their smiling faces, laugh at their jokes, and hear their life stories each week. It is great to see how much Back on My Feet and Changing Footprints can impact their lives. With the money we were able to raise, I know where it is going directly, and I am proud that I had the chance to help.”
“The support this drive received vastly exceeded my expectations and I am so proud of the generosity demonstrated by my classmates and community who donated more than 200 pairs of shoes for those in need locally and abroad, Wonderlin said. Overall, these achievements speak volumes about the character and spirit of the student body at Marian University which I am so proud to be a part of.”
Students were also encouraged to wear Halloween-themed outfits during the event. The 5K run/walk had prizes for Kyle Damen ‘23 and Julia Kaster ’23, top Marian runners, as well as raffle prizes for others. Kudos to all who participated for a job well done!
