Hand in hand the whole race, Michael Hudson and his son Marshall Hudson, 7, might not have beat any records or won a medal, but they beat their own record by 30 seconds — and that’s good enough for them.
As director of the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, or RCPD, Hudson helps students on a daily basis deal with their disability, something he experiences personally by being blind.
With his son’s support, Michael Hudson participated in the 13th annual Shamrock 5k Run-Walk-Roll on Saturday in about 25 degree weather through campus.
Participants were welcomed to the run by MSU Tower Guard, a sophomore-honors society whose members help students with disabilities, who benefit from RCPD, by reading tests and converting texts to electronic formats.
There were about 415 people signed up for the run by Saturday, and there were more than seven students who use the RCPD resources who participated in the run, said Emily Grof, interior design sophomore and co-chair of MSU Tower Guard.
Computer science sophomore Jordyn Castor said she decided to walk in the race to give back to the MSU Tower Guard and RCPD.
Castor has been blind since birth, and said she has found her place at MSU and the help she needs to succeed.
“They do a ton for me, so (it’s) cool to give back to them,” Castor said of the students in MSU Tower Guard. “Without them I don’t think I would be as successful.”
Joey Etienne, supply chain management sophomore and president of MSU Tower Guard, said the Shamrock 5k Run-Walk-Roll traditionally is the group’s largest fundraising event each year, with all proceeds going to RCPD. He said the event raised more than $8,000 last year.
“It’s not just a student event, it’s the city of East Lansing,” Etienne said.
Michael Hudson has participated in the Shamrock 5k Run-Walk-Roll since it started 13 years ago, and he has brought his son for at least four years now. Michael Hudson said they had a great time at the event, finishing the race in about 45 minutes.
“He keeps me going,” Michael Hudson said. “I think he likes passing people the most.”
Grof was one of the main event organizers, and said she was worried the cold weather would keep people from coming, but that did not prove to be the case.
“It’s just great to see that you can do something for them that they are going to have fun doing and is going to help them in the long run,” Grof said, referring to the students MSU Tower Guard helps.
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