Purdue Athletes Life Success Program (PALS)
Since 2012, the Purdue Boilermaker Half-Marathon & 5K has raised over $110,000 for the Purdue Athletes Life Success Program, better known as PALS. This free summer camp gives children in Tippecanoe County, aged 8-14, an experience with lifetime benefits.
These children come from families with incomes at or below federal poverty guidelines. PALS is structured around four character pillars: respect, responsibility, caring, and courage. The curriculum includes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), computer programming, financial literacy, dance, art, videography, photography, judo, nutrition, swimming, career development, service learning, and select special events.
For more information please visit the PALS website.
Boersma Family Trust Fund
For the 2023 event, we will also be recognizing Doug Boersma, a member of the Purdue Athletics sports medicine department from 2012-23 who tragically passed away on June 21.
Doug was a Purdue alum (’97), and was an avid runner and outdoorsman. He would have undoubtedly found his way into the field of participants for this year’s Purdue Boilermaker Half-Marathon. Doug is survived by his wife, Cari, and daughters McKenna, Ashlyn and Kayden. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s run will be donated to an educational trust fund established for his three daughters.
Please consider making a contribution to the Boersma Family Trust via Venmo (@Boersmafamilytrust) or through mail, c/o Farmers & Merchants Bank, 275 Sagamore Pkwy W., West Lafayette, IN 47906.
