BOALSBURG — Rowe’s Research Runners will be hosting its third annual One Mile Walk/Run/Roll beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg.
The family and dog-friendly event will feature Alliance of Heroic Hearts, live music by Kevin Briggs, raffle items, food and face and chalk painting.
Rowe’s Research Runners’ (RRR) local event works in conjunction with Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and the Baltimore Running Festival to raise money for research on chronic fatigue syndrome and dysautonomia at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. The money raised locally and in Baltimore directly benefits the research of Dr. Peter Rowe, director of the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Related Disorders Clinic.
In its first two years, RRR raised more than $40,000 combined, which has allowed Rowe to hire research assistants and publish several papers to help educate other practitioners.
For over a century, the children’s center has been a nonprofit hospital and has always relied on philanthropic support. The mission of RRR is to fundraise, increase awareness and facilitate connections for people with chronic fatigue syndrome, dysautonomia and related illnesses.
Emily Steffensmeier, team captain for Rowe’s Research Runners, feels that her 21 years of living with CFS and dysautonomia, her experience with Rowe helping her to live a fuller life and her connection to women around the world with these illnesses drives her to use her story as a catalyst to create change. There are only a handful of specialists in these illnesses throughout the United States. Though Dr. Rowe practices medicine at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, his impact is local, both because Emily Steffensmeier, the organizer of this event, is one of his patients and because Rowe has been instrumental in consulting with local physicians and helping them to treat other patients in Centre County.
In addition to the appearance of the Alliance super heroes, local musician Kevin Briggs will play tunes by Bob Dylan and others in the spirit of Rowe’s favorite music.
“I’m really looking forward to performing at the Rowe’s Research Run,” Briggs said. “It’s a wonderful cause and has really turned into a celebration of sorts, of people coming together to help John’s Hopkins help people. It feels great to be part of the team.”
Registration is $25 and participants receive a t-shirt (while supplies last). Children under 12 attend for free. In addition, anyone who wants to become a team member commits to raising money for Rowe’s research. Team members can participate locally, virtually or in Baltimore.
Those with questions about how to register should contact Steffensmeier at eemilysteff@gmail.com or (814) 933-6578. For current updates on the event, also check the group’s Facebook page.
