Paola Delaj
Football season marks the recommencement of an ultimate rivalry: Michigan vs. Michigan State. However, this celebration comes with a twist for a good cause. Now in its 5th consecutive year, the two biggest Michigan universities come together for an event known as Alex’s Great State Race to raise awareness about disabilities in honor of Alex Powell, a Michigan State Spartan treated at University of Michigan who passed away from cancer.
A team of Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets are running the 64-mile race from The Big House in Ann Arbor to Demonstration Hall near the Sparty Statue in East Lansing this year on October 19th, 2018. In addition to raising awareness for disabilities, the race also aims to raise funds for both the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) program here at Michigan State, as well as the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) program at University of Michigan, which aid students with disabilities in pursuit of higher education.
Juliana Powell, Alex’s mother, shares her thoughts on this touching and commemorative experience through an article on MSUToday, available here.
To support Alex’s Great State Race, donations can be made to the MSU RCPD program or the UM SSD program as they continue to provide services for students with disabilities.