Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Laura McEachern, PT, DPT, OCS, CMT, TPS, is a dedicated, compassionate, and knowledgeable physical therapist. Outgoing and forever upbeat, McEachern is also a shining example of the importance of giving back and building a community.
Three years ago, longtime Project Renewal executive director Ann Schwickerath, one of life’s true 24-karat gems, approached Rock Valley Physical Therapy with an idea.
For five decades, Project Renewal, a tremendous community cornerstone, has provided educational and recreational activities for children during the school year and summer in a safe land loving environment.
Schwickerath wanted to create a program where young girls in Davenport, Iowa, would interact with positive female role models with the ability to show – and share – what it’s like to get active and socialize.
To bring this plan to light, Schwickerath turned to Rock Valley Physical Therapy.
“Todd Kersten (retired Rock Valley PT) took the idea to the clinic he was in charge of at the time – Five Points (Davenport, Iowa) – and the response was great,’’ Schwickerath said. “That’s where Laura stepped up. Todd’s wife, Amy, was also a longtime volunteer with us and is a tremendous role model, but Laura has been tremendous for us.’’
The opportunity to give back, mentor, inspire and engage, was a perfect fit for the personable McEachern. Today, the program is in its third year and continues to have a tremendous impact on young females within the framework of the Iowa Quad-Cities.
Gatherings are every Monday at 6 p.m. from April 8 through May 13, 2024. The group meets at Davenport, Iowa’s, River’s Edge, 700 West River Drive.
Each session features a guest speaker covering topics like fitness, nutrition, goals and more, followed by walking and/or running on the riverfront bike path. Every gathering features an invested adult guide and leaders from Rock Valley Physical Therapy and Project Renewal to supervise, answer questions and pace each group of walkers, walk/runners, and runners.
Thanks to Rock Valley and Project Renewal there is no fee to be involved. All that is asked is participants dress appropriately for walking or running.
“This club is for girls and women who want to walk and/or run to strengthen mental health, physical fitness, make friends, and have fun,’’ Schwickerath said, noting that in addition to reaching out to Davenport-based elementary schools Jefferson and Madison, respectively,
Project Renewal has contacted support outlets like Davenport’s Hope at the Brick House, One Eighty, and Humility Homes and Services, to increase the program’s youth involvement.
“Mothers, daughters, grandmas, aunts are also welcome,’’ Schwickerath added. “We want to build community.’’
McEachern said it was the perfect project for her to jump behind, one that combines a positive impact on youth with an emphasis on fitness and community.
A talented cross country and track athlete in high school, McEachern has a firm grasp on the benefits of movement. She has run several half marathons and completed two marathons along her athletic path. This, she said, is the perfect project for her – Rock Valley Physical Therapy – to jump behind, one that combines a positive impact on youth with an emphasis on fitness and community.
“I have always enjoyed exercise, and walking and running are an important part of my life,’’ McEachern said. “As a physical therapist I understand the importance of exercise and the effects it has on us physically and also mentally. I want all young girls to have the confidence to set goals and work toward them, and I want them to have the opportunity to get outside, be active, and have a community of good people around them. This group allows us to bring girls and women of all ages together to get some fresh air, learn from each other, and be active throughout the spring.’’
Though it is never too late in life to find a path of exercise and fitness, McEachern says it is important to reach young girls on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
“I hope we can be positive role models for the girls and encourage them to continue to dream big and take care of themselves,’’ she said. “Research shows that by age 14 young girls drop out of sport at twice the rate of boys, so I want to continue to teach young girls about the importance of physical activity and living a healthy lifestyle, while also providing a safe community for them to achieve their goals.’’
Schwickerath, long dedicated to enhancing the lives of young people in her community, has a huge fan in McEachern.
“Ann is an incredible person, and she’s the one who first came up with this idea,’’ McEachern said. “We have been able to work together to grow this program as we go into our third year. We also are thankful to have so many incredible women who volunteer their time to speak to the girls to share knowledge about living healthy lifestyles, to teach about their careers, and to serve as cheerleaders to those around them.’’
As much as McEachern is a fan of Schwickerath, the longtime Project Renewal leader is an even bigger fan of the gifted physical therapist.
“Laura is tremendous,’’ Schwickerath said. “When we contacted Rock Valley about this project, Laura was excited and immediately jumped on board. We were looking for role models that could help us and Laura is someone we all can admire. We wanted to keep things small and make sure we had some footing with this, and Laura has helped it grow.’’
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller