As the roar of the crowd faded at the finish line of the 2023 Chicago Marathon, one exhausted runner could barely make it a few steps — unable to stand on his own. That’s when University of Illinois Chicago kinesiology students Michael Alvero and Alex Garber stepped in. For 45 quiet minutes, they stayed by the runner’s side, offering support, reassurance, and the steady presence of future health care professionals in action.

They weren’t alone. Nearly 50 UIC kinesiology students volunteered on the marathon’s Sweep and Psyching Teams, aiding runners who had given everything over the 26-mile stretch. Some staggered. Some relished in their achievement. All were met with compassion, training, and calm care — hallmarks of the education UIC provides.

Thanks to a rigorous training program led by professors John Coumbe-Lilley and Meredith Wekesser — including 10 hours of online coursework and hands-on simulations—these students weren’t just helping. They were healing. This was more than a day of service. It was a live, high-stakes classroom where students practiced psychological first aid, honed real-time clinical instincts, and discovered just how powerful presence can be in healthcare.

And for one runner, it made all the difference.