Redbird volleyball team help train intellectually disabled people in Bloomington

Posted on November 22, 2017
Illinois Redbirds volunteer to train intellectually disabled people as part of a fitness program with Advocate BroMenn Health & Fitness. (Photo Courtesy of Illinois State volleyball team)

 

By Sean Copeland

BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois State University Redbird volleyball team was an essential part of a collaboration with Advocate BroMenn Health & Fitness Center recently.

The Redbirds were guest trainers in the program, specifically helping to improve the health and fitness of those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

ISU senior Jaelyn Keene said it was a unique experience being the trainer rather than the trainee.

“I would just say it was really neat to be able to kinda be on the other side of training and weightlifting, and it was just really nice that they wanted us to come help them,” said Keene.

ISU junior Courtney Pence added the perspective is different especially in contrast to other college students.

“When you’re in college, you’re only around 18 to 23 year-olds y’know?,” Pence said. “And it’s really cool to see a different part of the community and just impacting lives and we wouldn’t have been able to do that if we weren’t in the volleyball program.”

Though the program started seven months ago, both teammates said they walked away with more than just a day’s worth of good deeds.

Sean Copeland can be reached at [email protected].

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