Penn State's Dairy Science Club Raises Funds with OsteoChallenge
Posted: Oct 08, 2009
Members of Penn State's Dairy Science Club organized the eight annual OsteoChallenge 5K race and raised more than $600 for the National Osteoporosis Foundation while raising awareness about this disease.
Surrounded by supporters, Dairy Science Club members display the check that will be given to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. From left: Billie Jo Kiel, Sarah Caldwell (Chair), Becky Wenger (Co-Chair), and Heidi Musshafen.
On Sunday, Oct. 4, 28 runners and walkers participated in the 8th annual Penn State's Dairy Science Club OsteoChallenge 5K race to raise money for the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). More than $600 raised from donations by the participants will go toward research and education of osteoporosis, a bone crippling disease affecting approximately 44 million Americans today.
Sarah Caldwell, Beaver Falls, Beaver County, chaired the event with assistance from Becky Wenger, Lebanon, Lebanon County, who will chair the planning committee next year. Caldwell is a junior in Agribusiness Management. She expressed appreciation to all the supporters of the OsteoChallenge for their efforts in raising awareness. Wenger is a junior studying Agricultural and Extension Education.
Development Officer for Community Programs of NOF, Kris Blanchette, admires OsteoChallenge for the younger audience it attracts, noting, "Educating college students about bone health and the importance of calcium in their diets is crucial in the fight to prevent osteoporosis."
Mike O'Connor, co-advisor of the Dairy Science Club, said, "I offer congratulations to Sarah and Becky for the great job they did preparing for and overseeing the OsteoChallenge event. These are very capable students, dedicated to this worthwhile philanthropic project."
Runners of all ages came out to support the cause. Prizes were awarded to the top three finishers and winners of age division. 20-year-old Dan Hartzell, Slippery Rock, PA, finished the 3.2 mile course on top with a time of 19 minutes, 58 seconds. Close behind were Marcia Itle, 23 of Loretto, Pa., and Fred Gouker, 21 from Hanover, Pa.
Age division winners were: * Male 55+: Marvin Hall * Female 55+: Mary Atkins * Male 36-55: Bill Dreschel * Female 36-55: Nancy Dreschel * Male 18-35: Dan Hartzell * Female 18-35: Marcia Itle
Refreshments, t-shirts and prizes for runners were sponsored by Allied Milk Producers Cooperative, Land O Lakes, Inc., Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, PennAg Industries Association and Dick's Sporting Goods.
OsteoChallenge is one of many events organized by Dairy Science club members at Penn State. For a complete listing of club events, please visit http://www.clubs.psu.edu/up/dairyscienceclub/
Also, to find more information on the prevention of osteoporosis or make your own donation, please visit http://nof.org.