CDI Back In Shape 5K Run and Patrick Holmes Memorial 5K Walk Help to Give Back to the Community
BLOOMINGTON, Minn.- Northwestern Health Sciences University will once again sponsor the CDI Back in Shape 5K Run and Patrick Holmes Memorial 5K Walk slated for June 7, 2008. The race is about more than just getting in shape, it serves as a way for Northwestern Health Sciences University to give back to the community.
This year the walk portion of the event will be held in memory of Patrick Holmes, an exercise therapist at Northwestern who died in the I-35W bridge collapse on Aug. 1, 2007. The walk will now be known as the Patrick Holmes Memorial 5K Walk.
Holmes had worked in the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies since 2001. In 2003, he was named Rehabilitation Services Coordinator and provided therapy of rehabilitative, self-care and home exercise components of federally funded clinical trials.
Holmes is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Gavin, age 7, and Rena, age 5.
Those registered for either the walk or the run will have the option of donating and/or collecting pledges for the Holmes Children Education Fund, which will provide scholarships for the Holmes’ children’s college education.
Sarah Zwagerman, clinical research administrator who worked with Holmes in the research department, said the family-oriented race is the perfect way to remember Holmes because of his dedication to both family and physical activity.
“Pat’s family was everything to him,” she said. “It’s a nice combination of family and the rehab part of him. It’s doing something active instead of just sitting around and talking about him.”
Zwagerman said the research staff is still “going through the motions” and remembering Holmes as they come across notes written by him as he worked with patients.
“It’s interesting when it happened because people think it’s a co-worker, and you didn’t know him that well,” she said. “But those are the people you go to work with eight to 10 hours a day. He was part of our research family.”
Holmes’ wife and children will start off the walk and his parents will be present as well.
Race participants will also have the opportunity to donate to either to the Northwestern Research Scholarship Fund, which will be awarded annually in memory of Holmes to a Northwestern student interested in research; or Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP), an organization that provides basic services to fill immediate needs in people’s lives in the Twin Cities. In addition to pledging to help support VEAP, food donations will be accepted at the Back in Shape Run also. For each donated food item, receive a raffle ticket and the chance to win a $500 travel voucher.
Each year Northwestern Health Sciences University partners with VEAP to present the Back In Shape 5K Run. Originally formed by thirteen congregations in Richfield, Minn. VEAP has since grown into the second largest food pantry in the twin city metro area. In 2007, VEAP provided over 4,000 families with food, support during the holidays, assistance with housing and utility expenses, and transportation. VEAP’s programs are designed to provide temporary assistance to families and individuals facing financial crises to help maintain stability and financial independence.
VEAP relies on the generous support of local businesses, congregations, foundations, individuals, organizations, and schools to continue providing basic needs services. Hundreds of volunteers actively participate in VEAP ’s ‘Neighbors Serving Neighbors’ mission by donating thousands of hours to VEAP programs every year. For additional information, visit the VEAP website at www.veapvolunteers.org.
Sarah Erickson , Co-Race Director
CDI Back In Shape Run and Patrick Holmes Memorial 5K Walk
We are always looking for feedback from our events, if you have anything you would like to share, e-mail serickson@nwhealth.edu.
2007 Race Results Posted Online
Interested in the results of the CDI Back In Shape Run
and Walk, click
here.
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