EFFINGHAM, Ill. — Even wind and clouds could not dampen the spirits of the athletes in the third annual “Meet Me at the Finish Line” Youth Adaptive Try-Athlon held Sept. 28 at the Richard E. Workman Sports Complex in Effingham. Hosted by HSHS St. Anthony’s Physical Rehabilitation and Wellness, this inspirational event promoted fitness and self-confidence for athletes 18 and under who have mobility and physical challenges.
The athletes with buddies by their side participated in swimming, biking and running events. The smiles on their faces spread joy to their families and friends who were cheering them on every splash, pedal and step of the way.
Physical Therapist Alex Kastl, PT, DPT, coordinates the event each year and shared, “This is such a special event that gives children and young adults, who often struggle with any type of functional mobility, the chance to participate in an event that some of us would take for granted. They challenged and pushed themselves to their fullest potential as they swam, biked, and walked/ran through the event,” he said. “The look of joy on the kids’ faces as they crossed the finish line and received their medal is hard to beat.”
Special thanks for the HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital and Rehabilitation and Wellness team, Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Complex, and the Sullivan, Illinois AMBUCS Chapter for their help making this a successful event for the athletes and their families.
For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit stanthonyshospital.org.
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About Hospital Sisters Health System
HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham is part of Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a Catholic health care ministry founded in 1875. Dedicated to our Mission to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through high-quality Franciscan health care, HSHS clinicians provide exceptional care centered on the whole person. Based in Springfield, Illinois, HSHS employs more than 11,000 colleagues who provide care in 13 acute-care, children’s and critical-access hospitals and home health and hospice programs in Central and Southern Illinois and Eastern Wisconsin. HSHS is aligned with more than 1,000 primary and specialty physicians and advanced practitioners through its owned affiliates HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Cardiovascular and its partnership with Prevea Health. For more information about HSHS, visit hshs.org.