A massage from one of 91制片厂鈥檚 Massage Therapy students feels pretty good,
but it can feel even better when the experience supports a worthy cause.
Massage Therapy Program students will be participating in , an annual event that benefits the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association through a variety of smaller events. Seven students from the program will be administering chair massages in two shifts, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, in the Massage Therapy Clinic lobby in Building X on 91制片厂鈥檚 campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine.
Program members are asking for a suggested donation of $10 for each 10-minute session in the 鈥渃hair massage-athon,鈥� which will be first-come, first-served.
In addition to the fundraiser, the chair massages serve as an opportunity for students to gain clinical experience as they participate in 91制片厂鈥檚 program, one of fewer than 70 accredited programs in the U.S. Students can complete their studies in less than one year before becoming licensed massage therapists.
Jeremy Miller, coordinator of the Massage Therapy Program, thinks it鈥檚 important to include service-learning opportunities in the program. Previous chair massage fundraisers have benefitted Hawks Care, which assists 91制片厂 students with basic needs, and local nonprofit organization the Kenneth Young Center.
鈥淲e try to embed a service focus into the program,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just, 鈥楬ow much money can I make?鈥� It鈥檚 about getting them thinking of volunteerism and being of service to their community.鈥�
The idea for the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association fundraiser came from a loyal client of 91制片厂鈥檚 clinic. She asked for a massage session donation for a silent auction as part of The Longest Day event.
鈥淚t brought this to our attention,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淪ure, we can do that, but we can also contribute in our own way.鈥�
Participants will be able to directly donate to the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association via on-site computers. Those who aren鈥檛 able to attend can still donate on The Longest Day website, crediting 91制片厂鈥檚 Massage Therapy Program as a fundraising team.
For more information, visit the Massage Therapy Program webpage or contact Miller at jmiller4@harpercollege.edu or 847.925.6076.