"More equipment to better serve the needs of the athletes."

Newsboy photo/Katie Waldrop CHRISTUS OUTPATIENT PHYSICAL Therapy Clinic donated items to Jasper Independent School District's athletic department/training room. (Left) Student athletic trainer, Natalie Sollock, places a hydrocollator unit (moist heating pad) on athlete William Brooks. (Right) Certified Athletic Trainer and Sports Medicine instructor at Jasper High School, Joe Guthrie, oversees as Christian Goff is in the extremity whirlpool.

Jasper ISD athletic department received $23,000 worth of equipment donated by Christus Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinic.

"Mark Durand contacted me and asked if I would be interested in some of their equipment for my training room," said Joe Guthrie, certified athletic trainer and sports medicine instructor at Jasper High School.

"I can always use more equipment to better serve the needs of the athletes so I jumped on the opportunity," said Guthrie.

The athletic room is now equiped with a full size whirlpool, extremity whirlpool, adjustable treatment table, hot paraffin bath, hydrocollator unit (moist heating pads), and a multi-gym.

"We continue to be a big supporter of our athletic department and schools with donations and support," said Mark Durand, director of Christus' public relations and communications.

"We at Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital feel that by working together we can make a profound difference in the quality of people's lives and create sustainable positive change in our community," said Durand.

These items were a needed help to the training room. "If we were to buy each individual item it would take us about 10 years to accomplish what we did in one day through the help of Mr. Durand and Christus Jasper Memorial," said Guthrie.

"We are very proud of not only our athletic programs, but of all the students and faculty here in Jasper," said Durand.

To donate equipment to JISD's training room contact Joe Guthrie at 382-1376.