Five graduate students laced up their running shoes Sunday to raise money for children who have difficulty eating.
Graduate student Marissa Stoltzfus and the rest of Team POPSICLE Marathon Challenge raised $3,500 for a local nonprofit at the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon and Half Marathon.
Parent Organized Partnerships Supporting Infants and Children Learning to Eat, or POPSICLE, is a nonprofit that educates doctors and families about “feeding difficulties” among children. Feeding difficulties can include refusing to eat and having anxiety when presented with food.
Stoltzfus said many parents and even pediatricians are unaware of feeding difficulties and treatments.
The organization helps connect families with the treatment needed to improve their children’s feeding difficulty. This may include connecting families with feeding specialists, counselors and feeding programs.
POPSICLE Center office manager Bonnita Everett said the donation money raised by the racers would go toward resources and professionals who help inform people of feeding difficulties.
In June, Stoltzfus and the other graduate students in Sunday’s race took a class on voice and swallowing within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. A representative from the POPSICLE center visited the class as a guest speaker.
Stoltzfus said she was inspired by the organization that provided support for an under-recognized, but significant problem that some children and families face. She eventually organized a running group with friends and fellow students to participate in the January marathon.
Team POPSICLE Marathon Challenge — made up of seven members, including the five graduate students — began training in the summer.
“Many people run for larger charities, but smaller organizations like POPSICLE often do not receive the same level of support,” Stoltzfus said.
The group began fundraising in October. Each donor filled out sponsorship forms promising a certain amount of money per mile.
Four members of the team participated in the half marathon and three ran the full race. Each member completed the run.
The seven teammates agreed training for the race was no problem because running is one of their favorite pastimes.
Team member and communications disorders graduate student Caitlin Vose said the full marathon was painful but she remained encouraged throughout the whole race by observers, dancers, cheerleaders, bands and an ASU instructor who also participated.
Stoltzfus said she hopes POPSICLE will continue to use the P.F. Chang’s race as a fundraising opportunity.
“Next year, I would love it if we had a much larger team and were able to raise at least $10,000,” she said.
Reach the reporter at tchavez3@asu.edu
