It was a mission – faith-based and medical at its core – humanitarian, life and love-filled at every turn.
It was far more than just a trip; it was a treasured lifetime experience.
For Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Danna Herrick, PT, DPT, Norwalk, Iowa, clinic, and Beth Schweizer, PT, MSPT, Rock Valley’s West Des Moines, Iowa, clinic, their recent “Running The Race’’ faith and medical mission to the elite and professional running community of Iten, Kenya, was all the two gifted therapists thought it would be.
And more.
Over seven days, nine medical professionals from Iowa, Georgia, Nairobi (Kenya), Iten (Kenya) lived, did clinical work, worked at the local hospital, engaged the local school and community for sports medicine education and demonstration, and led fellowship scripture in the evenings.
Along their amazing journey, Herrick and Schweizer learned to love “Mama Mary’s’’ home cooking, basked in early-morning runs, shared faith, fellowship, found new ways to communicate and watched – sometimes in humorous wonderment – the travels to and from by those whose lives are lived “off the beaten path.’’
Brought to fruition in 2018, “Running The Race’’ is a non-profit faith and medical mission dedicated to providing the underserved running community of Iten, a town in Kenya. Approximately 3,000 of Iten’s 5,000 residents are runners and part of each mission is to provide diagnostic and rehab education and assistance to run with joy and without pain.
Both Herrick and Schweizer, two gifted and ever-so compassionate Rock Valley therapists, had long desired to be part of a faith-based/medical mission trip, one where they could also share their passion for running and a desire to work with runners.
It was an adventure on a bevy of rewarding fronts – with a challenge or two mixed in.
The invitation to be part of something life-changing was inspired by Stadia Sports Medicine’s Dr. Chad Carlson, MD, FACSM, and through an invitation from Stadia Sports Medicine’s Donavan Greiner, PT, DPT, a longtime colleague of Herricks. Dr. Carlson serves on the board of directors of “Running the Race.’’
“It was great to have Dr. Carlson and his son on the team from a professional level and also on a personal level,’’ Schweizer said, noting that Stadia Sports Medicine and Rock Valley Physical Therapy have had a tremendous working relationship.
“Getting to know him beyond the profession through our sharing during our bible study time and our daily team activities added so much more to the trip,’’ added Schweizer. “To say the least, it was an incredible trip. We are grateful that by way of company and clinic communication, Dr. Carlson shared this opportunity with Stadia Sports Medicine and Norwalk (Iowa) therapist, Donavon Greiner based on our passion and knowledge working with runners, being runners ourselves, and our faith-driven lives.’’
Both Schweizer and Herrick were valuable components to the mission’s success.
“Danna and Beth were awesome,’’ Dr. Carlson said of the two Rock Valley therapists, noting that “Running the Race’’ is faith-based at its core, but the medical side is a great tool to work from. “Each team that has gone is different in that no group is the same. Prior to the trip there is online team building as to why we are there and everyone on the trip understands that. To that, Beth and Danna are just fun.”
“It was great what they brought to the table,’’ Dr. Carlson added. “The physical therapists that make the trip are usually the stars. They are great to work with but can also teach something that can continue to be used – and be helpful – after we have gone. It was fun personally for me to watch Danna do her thing with the running team. They (Schweizer and Herrick) fit right in with the go-with-the-flow approach, and everyone is glad they went.’’
Before reaching Iten, Schweizer and Herrick would encounter 24 hours of flight time (36 hours of actual travel) that required the usual identification – passports and Kenyan Visa. The two would also learn they needed a UK ESTA when traveling through Great Britain, a fact brought to their attention mid-trip – to simply – and legally – get their feet on the ground in Africa.
The traveling adventure for Herrick and Schweizer, even with added visa needs and a missed flight because of it, provided an opportunity to grow one’s patience, call on one’s sense of humor and test one’s sense of adventure. It must be noted, Herrick and Schweizer went 48 hours without an opportunity to lay down to sleep along the way.
“Beth’s gift of seeing stressful situations as a comedy and her faith in “His’’ plan, “His’’ timing, with a, “what are you gonna do spirit,’’ were vital,’’ Herrick shared. “Getting there was great practice in prayer, patience and humor.’’
The two Rock Valley therapists say they spent significant prep from fall through until their trip to organize and update the “Running the Race’’ website to create a paperless library that athletes/patients could access for their treatment plans/HEP (Home Exercise Program). Laminated card decks were made and provided to each team member to have as visuals for athletes during sessions, with additional QR codes to refer them to our RTR (Running The Race) website exercise library.
Though versed in plans for the week, Herrick and Schweizer would not have a full grasp of what each day would bring until they had boots on the ground.
“We laugh about it now,’’ Schweizer said, who noted the trip was self-funded, but called the financial support received from friends, family, and Rock Valley Physical Therapy “true gifts’’ that enabled the two to experience such a life-changing trip.
“But we really did not know anything regarding our schedule upon landing in Kenya beyond afternoon clinic time of 2-to-6 p.m. every day except Friday from 10 a.m.-to-noon and bible study with the team each night that was set in advance.
“When we arrived, time slots were quickly filled with extra clinics each morning outside of Iten, Eldoret clinic with FCA athletes, Kachibora with Transcend Academy boarding school athletes, teaching sessions with local coaches in Iten, lunch-hour presentations for hospital staff physical therapists, onsite experience of professional athlete track workout and tempo workout two mornings that we ran in,’’ Schweizer added.
Gifted runners and elite competitors across their careers, Herrick and Schweizer said morning runs were a wonderful way to begin each day.
“We were the only “runners” on our mission team and enjoyed meeting one of the local development professional running teams each morning before sunrise to run,’’ Herrick said. “We would then return to our guesthouse for a homemade breakfast and (cold) shower before the outreach activities. We would then walk back to the guesthouse for a team dinner with another homemade meal and evening bible study. We would then push the bedtime even more, catching up with family back home and writing the daily blog. The days were full and very fulfilling.’’
Herrick and Schweizer say taking in all the sights, sounds and interacting with those from a different culture — and landscape — were life-changing moments.
The variety of challenges along their journey and the sharing with others simply deepened Herrick and Schweizer’s faith to another level of understanding.
“To have the opportunity to pursue our passions of faith, medical care, running, and with a best friend all in one trip does not come around often, if not ever,’’ Herrick said. “I followed the path Beth paves with her adventurous, God-driven spirit, and said “yes” to it (the mission). I am so incredibly glad and grateful I did.’’
The pair marveled at the gratitude from all they served, sunrise runs – on dirt roads – with countless others working to find that day’s rhythm – times they called both inspirational and uplifting. There were lifelong friendships formed within a culture that sees a visitor as a welcome gift from God. Contact continues today through WhatsApp and a variety of other social platforms.
“I often say that there are certain things in life that are universal language,’’ shared Herrick.
“Kenya is proof of this. There is faith, running, smiling, gratitude, and growth through suffering or sacrifice. I continued to see, hear, and felt it with every local I came across. My personal (forever) favorite moment will be running the “Tuesday Track” workout and being so welcomed by the East Africans to do so. As Beth shared with me, just hearing the beat of the feet on the dirt track, the rhythm of the athletes breathing, and the epic image of this poetry in motion was something that stopped me in my tracks and whispered: “You are right where you need to be. Embrace it.’’
“Running the Race’’ was more than just a trip for Herrick and Schweizer, it was a life-changing experience.
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller