Members of the community gathered in Tri-Hall field at ETSU to participate in the second annual Trot or Treat 3K Fun Run on Saturday hosted by the Department of Physical Therapy.

“This event was started mainly to raise money for the Foundation of PT Research,” Jalesa Perkins, one of the vice presidents of the Department of Physical Therapy class of 2021 said. “All of our funds go to that, and it’s just a way for our physical therapy department to kind of get together and get in the community and get students involved in our event.”

  • (Photograph by Madison Taylor / East Tennessean)
  • (Photograph by Madison Taylor / East Tennessean)
  • (Photograph by Madison Taylor / East Tennessean)

Perkins said that the money donated towards the Foundation of Physical Therapy Research goes towards more research within the foundation and the research that goes on behind physical therapy.

In past events, Perkins said the number of people participating in the Trot or Treat event averaged around 50. She said this year about 27 people signed up to participate in the marathon.

“It’s going to go through the University Woods and then throughout campus,” Perkins said. “So they’ll start here at Tri-Hall fields … and end at the finish line behind the gazebo. It’s 1.8 miles.”

Many runners brought their dogs to the event, and runner Will Stafford brought his dogs Harper and Titan to support his friends in the physical therapy program.

“Any time you can do something to help the community and the people that live around you, I think that’s a great thing,” Stafford said.

To celebrate Halloween, marathon runners were encouraged to wear costumes to the event, with an award being given to the best costume.

Dressed as a doughnut, ETSU Physical Therapy student Ally Dunlay said she was glad to see money being donated to a good cause.

“I love it,” Dunlay said. “I think it’s a really great cause. There’s so much research that needs to be done. It’s still a growing field, so just the fact that we’re able to raise money, and all of it goes straight toward physical therapy research, I think that’s wonderful.”

Dunlay said students should get involved in events like these to show support to fellow ETSU students and to learn more about the medical professions in the surrounding area.

“We’re such a medically-based community,” Dunlay said. “There’s so many hospitals. Just helping all of the medical professions grow and be the best that they can, I think that’s important.”