Update: After being postponed due to poor weather, SOTA has rescheduled to Nov. 2 at 9 a.m.
The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) club plans to host its first color run fundraiser to further support the organization’s efforts to provide students with financial assistance and hands-on opportunities.
Based on the Paducah regional campus, the club was introduced in 2018 with the goal of providing the occupational therapy graduate students with scholarships and to build community partnerships with local and regional organizations.
Sherri Powers, occupational therapy director, said the students involved in the program decided a color run would be an opportunity for the program’s students to get more involved with fundraising and the main campus.
“The students realize that the basis of their occupational therapy degree is to help others, and they know that the funds raised will continue to benefit the organizations they support,” Powers said. “As well as the camaraderie and enjoyment of being together as SOTA members interacting with others on the Murray campus with a common goal.”
SOTA members decided in spring 2024 that the next fundraiser would be a color run, as numerous members had previously participated in similar events and felt that through this fundraiser participants can continue to make a difference.
Leah Urhahn, SOTA president, said they plan on making the color run an annual event.
“The officers and I wanted to create a fundraiser that the program had not seen before so we could give back to our community partners and OT (occupational therapy) students,” Urhahn said. “A Color Run was brought to the table and, as eager and outgoing as we are, we took the challenge and ran with it.”
The funds raised by the event are set to create four $500 scholarships for the spring 2025 semester and serve as donations to some of their community charity partners like the Merryman House, a domestic crisis center, and Cassidy’s Cause, a therapeutic horse riding academy.
“They are really excited to see everyone come out to take part in the event,” Powers said. “They have been planning this event since the spring 2024 semester and have really worked hard creating flyers, getting the word out and coordinating with all of the Murray State folks involved to make this successful.”
The run is set to offer two routes, a one-mile and a 5K option. Both will start in the Quad by the University gates, leading through two alternative routes throughout campus before ending again at the gates.
The Color Run will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28, with check-in starting at 8:30 a.m. Registration can be done through the organization’s Instagram (input) or day of. There is a $20 registration fee per participant.
“The SOTA club members and program faculty are stoked about this run, and we cannot wait to see all of the hard work and dedication we poured into it finally come to life,” Urhahn said.