Students Launch the 2021-2022 VCU-Marquette Challenge

By Brooke McDonald, SPT

 

For many physical therapy and physical therapy assistant students, back to school means launching the next Marquette Challenge to give forward to their profession and help fund physical therapy research.

 

Since 1989, more than 300 schools and thousands of PT and PTA students have participated in the Marquette Challenge – an annual student-led fundraiser that benefits the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (FPTR). Over the years, the Marquette Challenge has raised more than $4.5 million for research. FPTR depends on these funds to award grants, scholarships, and fellowships.

 

Like many nonprofits, the FPTR has been struggling to get back to pre-pandemic levels of funding for research due to the health crisis and economic disruptions in 2020. The Challenge represents nearly a third of FPTR's overall fundraising budget and therefore has a huge impact on the continued funding of research at higher levels.

 

Today, student fundraisers are more important to the FPTR’s mission than ever before. I hope you will connect with physical therapy research in a meaningful way by fundraising for the 2021-2022 VCU-Marquette Challenge.

 

PT/PTA students and faculty in Virginia have been staunch supporters of FPTR and every donation is critical to the success of the Challenge. Over the years, the Foundation has provided $175,817.00 in funding for researchers from the state of Virginia. FPTR remains appreciative of the commitment of PT and PTA students from Virginia in supporting physical therapy research.

 

 

Faculty and students in the state of Virginia are encouraged to visit the Marquette Challenge website at marquettechallenge.com to learn how they can support FPTR and physical therapy research through the 2021-2022 VCU-Marquette Challenge. They can also go directly to the FPTR’s giving tool and create an online fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/search?q=FPTR.

 

 

 

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research was established in 1979 as the only national, independent nonprofit organization solely dedicated to funding physical therapy research. Since its inception, FPTR has awarded more than $20 million in research grants, fellowships, and scholarships to more than 640 promising researchers. Many of today’s leading physical therapy researchers, clinicians, and academicians began their careers with this support. Foundation-funded researchers have gone on to secure more than $845 million in follow-on funding. www.marquettechallenge.com/donate/