Spartans, Wolverines Unite During Rivalry Week to Benefit Students with Disabilities
EAST LANSING – Twelve years ago, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan banded together to create a 64-mile race, “Alex’s Great State Race,” to celebrate the life of Alex Powell, a high school senior who had been accepted to MSU but unfortunately lost his life to a form of rare, aggressive cancer.
Alex was a devoted student, a passionate athlete, and a leader. He achieved his goal of becoming a Spartan while receiving cancer treatment from Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor.
The two universities celebrate his legacy by giving the game ball to a team of Army ROTC Cadets from both universities who then run it across 64 miles of Michigan roads, and finish at the university hosting the game.
This year, the race started in the morning of Oct. 24 on the University of Michigan’s campus, and ended around noon on Michigan State’s campus.
The President of MSU, Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., and MSU’s Director of Athletics, J Batt, joined the cadets in the last mile of the race.
Runners promote the race the day before the MSU/U of M football game to promote the University Health and Wellbeing’s Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, or RCPD.
The RCPD helped Powell achieve his dream of attending MSU by guiding him through his Spartan experience. They are an organization that helps to remove barriers for students with disabilities - including students with mobility, learning, visual, and auditory disabilities, brain injuries, and chronic health conditions.
Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate in the race virtually by running, walking, or rolling miles from anywhere. Those who participate can make a donation to either university to support students with disabilities.