Sometimes a class assignment is just the little nudge one needs to get involved and support a cause.

Kendra Mitchell, an occupational therapy student at A.T. Still University, understood the connection between participation in activities or occupations and increased health, well-being and quality of life. Aware that Special Olympics provided sports training, competitions and support programs to people with intellectual disabilities she chose the organization as the subject her presentation.

Once she began the assignment she learned about the 2nd Annual Red Rock Sprint and Unified Triathlon that benefitted Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ). For the Unified event, SOAZ teams up two athletes with a Special Olympics athletes. Mitchell wanted to get involved and convinced classmates to do the same.

“I proposed this event to fellow classmates as an opportunity to be active within our community,” said Mitchell, 24. “As well as a great opportunity to interact and build relationships with a cohort we may find ourselves working hands-on with as soon-to-be occupational therapists.”
Shortly after inquiring about participating, SOAZ recruited Mitchell to serve as a planning committee member for the triathlon event. Along with a classmate, Rachael Feierstein, 27, they promoted the event around campus, at other local schools and throughout the valley.

Mitchell recruited fellow class mate, Jessica Nelson, 28, to register as a Unified team and were quickly paired with Special Olympics Arizona athlete, Kristine Thomas, 17.

“I couldn't have asked for a better team member,” said Mitchell. “Kristine was naturally motivated to be at her best come event day, even making time in her schedule to train and prepare with Jessica and I beforehand. As an avid swimmer, Kristine completed the swim leg, Jessica the bike leg, and I completed the run leg of the course but in the end we crossed the finish line together.”

“Kristine was a young inspiration. She had an uplifting, fun, energetic spirit and was delightful to be around. Sharing this experience with Kristine and her family was a true blessing. She brought positive energy, laughter and determination to this event. I walked away from this experience with a strong sense of empowerment and inspiration from my time spent with Kristine.”

Mitchell and Nelson plan to make this event a yearly tradition hopefully bringing their original team with Kristine back together every year. This year Mitchell is already hard at work on the event committee, recruiting others to get involved, promoting the cause and raising funds. She will be participating in the third edition on September 11 at the DC Ranch Village Health Club and Spa as part of a Unified team.

Mitchell, who receives her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy on August 7, is proud to promote the SOAZ mission and the importance of participating in events that focus on assisting individuals to achieve their best.

What started as a class assignment turned into much more. A.T. Still University raised a total of $2,095 for Special Olympics Arizona and had students from several programs involved, including physical therapy and physician’s assistant.

To learn more about the event there will be a clinic Saturday, August 21, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The clinic is open to the public. Beginner to experienced athletes are encouraged to participate. For more information, visit Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} www.specialolympicsarizona.org.

— Sue Berliner