Inaugural Triumph Trek Celebrates Patients’ Resilience

Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation’s first-ever Triumph Trek brought patients and community members together to run, walk, wheel and learn. Find out more.

At Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation, healing is not one-dimensional. Helping patients achieve maximum physical functionality following serious illness or injury occurs alongside mental and spiritual restoration. Recently, persons served and their families joined rehabilitation staff and community members to celebrate all aspects of healing at the inaugural Triumph Trek.

Held Sept. 22, 2024, at the Berman Hebrew Academy track and field complex in Rockville, the Triumph Trek invited participants to walk, wheel or run a distance meaningful to them. Many trekkers used their time on the track to raise money for the Adventist HealthCare Patient Assistance Fund, which offers financial assistance and other forms of support to persons served.

The Triumph Trek evolved from the longstanding Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation Amputee 5k Walk, Wheel, Run event, which was held each spring for nearly a decade to support the Amputee Rehabilitation and Support program. That event invited members of the amputee community and their supporters to participate in athletic events to raise money for adaptive equipment, insurance copays and other purposes while raising awareness of amputation-related issues.

“We recognized the desire for a broader cross-section of our patient population to participate in an event that builds community, highlights their resilience, provides access to critical health information and more,” said Elan Burman, associate vice president of system philanthropy and donor relations and post-acute care services philanthropy lead at Adventist HealthCare. “The name ‘Triumph Trek’ was the product of submissions from a broad audience of staff and patients. It is an apt description of what transpires at this event as it’s a testimony to the power of the human spirit to overcome the adversity of illness and injury.”

Supporting and Showcasing Successes

Success in rehabilitation looks different for every patient, but no matter its form, it’s worth celebrating. That desire to recognize our patients’ achievements motivated us to organize the Triumph Trek, which brought approximately 300 people to Berman Hebrew Academy on a cool, early fall day for the first-ever event.

The Triumph Trek served as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people determined to achieve their goals partner with skilled therapists dedicated to bringing those goals within reach. Participants showed how far they’d come building function and mobility by walking, wheeling or running the track. In addition to celebrating their strength and achievements and deepening their connections to each other, trekkers and community members had the opportunity to access important health information from trusted sources.

“We held a health fair with representation from service lines at Adventist HealthCare and several of our corporate and clinical philanthropic partners,” Elan said. “Participants received health screenings and services, including blood pressure checks and flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.”

The event included a moment of silence in memory of persons served who died during the previous year. Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation also presented a pair of prestigious awards. The organization recognized Hope Kott with the patient community service award. Certified registered nurse practitioner Cecilia Snyder was honored as clinician of the year.

Fostering Connections

In addition to celebrating the successes of the people we serve, the Triumph Trek allowed participants to connect with each other and broaden their support networks.

“The Triumph Trek is all about community, and that’s the theme people reflected on the most when asked to comment on their favorite aspect of the event,” Elan said. “The opportunity to be with others who have experienced a potentially life-altering illness or injury, or to spend time with families who have supported loved ones through such episodes, builds a profound bond between all who participate.”

Pattern of Support

At Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation, persons served have access to a tapestry of rehabilitation support services throughout their therapy.

Support groups and fun events with fellow patients, such as trips in the community, help patients build relationships with and learn from each other. Home care services, mental healthcare, nutrition planning, pain management and spiritual services provide persons served with all-encompassing care designed to help them succeed far beyond the therapy gym. In addition, Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation team members connect patients with community resources that can assist with transportation, procurement of medical equipment, food delivery and more. The Triumph Trek enhances this ethos of support.

“Our commitment to the people we care for does not end at our front door,” Elan said. “Delivering empathetic care means we foster true bonds of partnership as we provide our patients with healing. I have heard from patients who were astounded when clinicians greeted them by name 10 years after discharge. Events like the Triumph Trek are an expression of our commitment to those we serve and the community at large.”

Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation continues to look for ways to evolve and strengthen that commitment.

“Adventist HealthCare lives its mission of extending God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing,” Elan said. “Our commitment to person-centered care sees the organization extend care well beyond the confines of the traditional healthcare model, and we are far more than merely a healthcare system. We are a group of profoundly dedicated individuals seeking to make a transformative impact on the lives of those who have been affected by serious illness and injury. The Triumph Trek is just one manifestation of this wraparound care.”