Ludington Hospital

Hospital collecting shoe donations as part of National Athletic Training Month

February 25, 2019

Spectrum Health Foundation Ludington Hospital is partnering with Ludington Area Schools to provide athletic shoes to student athletes.

During National Athletic Training Month in March, people may donate new or gently used athletic shoes by placing their items in the donation drop-off boxes in the main office, athletic office or athletic trainer’s office at Ludington High School. Shoes will be distributed through the school’s Teen Resource Center beginning in April to athletes of all ages, not just high school athletes.

“We are looking for all sizes of basketball shoes, running shoes, tennis shoes and cleats for baseball, softball, soccer and football,” said Jenn Mroz, AT, ATC, lead athletic trainer at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. “The community has been so supportive of me and my role with the school that I wanted to do something to give back.”

Many people will use athletic shoes for just one season, which means there’s still a lot of life left in them for other athletes. Having a good pair of shoes can protect student athletes from common injuries while also improving their performance.

National Athletic Training Month

The theme of National Athletic Training Month 2019 is “ATs are Health Care.”

Athletic trainers are health care professionals who play a pivotal role as a bridge between physicians and athletes.

Spectrum Health Medical Group has licensed athletic trainers throughout West Michigan at various orthopedic offices and schools, including Ludington High School.

“In a relatively short time, our athletic trainer, Ms. Jenn, has transformed the way we assess, treat and heal athletes,” said Randy Fountain, LHS athletic director. “She brings more than just her experience as an athletic trainer – she also has wit, charm and an ability to connect with our athletes.”

You can never predict what may happen when it comes to sports injuries, but being prepared is a proactive first step.

“Having an athletic trainer on hand is one thing schools can do to be prepared,” said Mroz. “With an athletic trainer, the coach is able to focus on coaching, and the athletic trainer can focus on the medical aspect of the game. The athletic trainer is there not only to treat injures, but also to help prevent them.”

For more information on the athletic shoe donation program or about Spectrum Health’s athletic training program, contact Jenn Mroz at 231.845.7303, ext. 2030.

People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people—including more than 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,000 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.

Contact:
Michelle Rasmussen
Senior Communications Specialist
Phone: 231.349.9964
Email: michelle.rasmussen@corewellhealth.org