OFF TO JAMAICA!!! In approximately one year in September 2025, as a second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student at Arcadia University, I will participate in an International Service Learning Elective through Friends of the Redeemer United in Jamaica. I will provide education and physical therapy services under the supervision of licensed physical therapists and locally licensed clinicians at no cost to the beneficiaries.

“Friends of the Redeemer United (FOR U) is a faith-guided mission uniting healthcare initiatives with community development based in St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica. FOR U was established by Dr. Brooke Riley, PT, DPT, in December 2007, and is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Gulfport, MS. FOR U was created for the purposes of encouraging the healing process through involvement in spiritual, social, educational, and health-related services in rural Jamaica, creating awareness of the needs of the under-served in rural Jamaica, and providing opportunity for involvement in improving the quality of life for the under-served in rural Jamaica.” – FOR U website

This 2-week international service trip will center around an outpatient day rehabilitation model, where adults burdening neurological pathologies, including stroke and traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries will experience intensive physical therapy interventions at the Christ camp to promote recovery, optimize functional outcomes, and maximize their quality of life. The camp is 8 hours daily, including group reflection and games, extensive outcome measures and home assessments, impairment and function-specific treatment stations, and community reintegration activities. I will have the privilege of serving alongside several of my colleagues in my DPT cohort and physical therapy students from other accredited graduate programs.

All of the money raised throughout my fundraising efforts over the next year will go directly towards offsetting the costs of being able to contribute my knowledge and physical therapy services globally to individuals who are underserved in the healthcare community due to barriers associated with the social determinants of health.

Please consider contributing to this cause through a donation via this GoFundMe or my Venmo by searching for my account @Zachary-Runkle-1. If these sources of contribution are problematic in any way, please reach out to me and I can propose another method. Every dollar counts; your generosity will provide hope, support, and encouragement to individuals on an international scale. Thank you in advance for your contribution to support me in this journey!!!