Unitec Sport raises $2,000 for Arthritis New Zealand

4 November 2013

Unitec Sport Recovery Zone at adidas Auckland Marathon raises $2,000 for Arthritis New Zealand

Over 450 athletes participating in the adidas Auckland Marathon benefitted from post-race recovery treatment delivered by osteopathy students from Unitec Institute of Technology.

Located in Victoria Park, the Unitec Sport Recovery Zone was open to all competitors for post-race recovery treatment. Treatments delivered by more than thirty osteopathy students raised around $2,000 for Arthritis New Zealand.

Graeme Saxby, Clinical Education Development Manager – Osteopathy, Unitec Institute of Technology, says the Unitec Sport Recovery Zone proved an extremely popular destination for hundreds of athletes.

“Post-race treatment is important for muscle and joint recovery, and our osteopathy students are specially trained in providing treatments that ease tension and reduce race-related injuries. We are delighted that so many athletes benefitted from receiving treatment on completion of their race and that we can provide this financial support to Arthritis New Zealand."

Arthritis New Zealand chief executive, Sandra Kirby, says they are grateful for Unitec’s contribution to help raise funds for and awareness of their organisation’s goals.

“Keeping joints mobile is vital for those with arthritis, but many people need help and support to improve or maintain their mobility,” says Sandra.

“We’d like to thank Unitec’s osteopathy students and staff for all their hard work at the Sport Recovery Zone, and we’re proud we could help direct marathon participants to this great service from our booth near the finish line.”

Corporate sponsors such as Nissan New Zealand also employed Unitec osteopathy students to treat athletes in their corporate tents.

Unitec osteopathy student, Mike McLeod says the experience was incredibly rewarding.

“Whether the athletes had completed the half-marathon or marathon, each and every one of them had been on a personal journey. The Unitec Sport Recovery Zone provided an opportunity to acknowledge their amazing efforts and provide a recovery service for them at the completion of the journey.”

ENDS

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