TEAYS VALLEY -- Teays Physical Therapy Center became a one-stop shop on Thursday, June 4, where young athletes could get cleared for sports participation and help benefit their school's athletics program all under one roof.

"Gear-Up 2009," a joint effort of Teays Physical Therapy Center, local physicians and medical professionals, provided 329 pre-participation sports physicals to high school and middle school athletes.

The $5 registration fee collected from each athlete will be donated back to their respective schools' sports programs.

"Several hundred students each year take advantage of the physicals and earn money for their school's athletic programs," Cindy W. Skiles, physical therapist and owner of TPTC, said in a press release. "As in previous years, TPTC donates an additional $100 to the high school and middle school that had the most athletes participating in Gear-Up 2009."

Hurricane High School and Hurricane Middle School had the most participants this year. A total of $1,845 will be donated to the participating schools.

Area physicians and medical professionals donating their time to "Gear-Up 2009" included: Jeff Ashley, M.D.; Joshua Bradford, D.O.; Teresa Calhoun, CS-FNP; Norman Cottrill, D.O.; Claudia Duncan, D.O.; Greg Harrah, M.D.; Bradley Henry, M.D.; Ann Lambernedis, M.D.; Peter Lukowski, M.D.; Pam Stallo, M.D.; Cheryl Thompson, M.D.; Denise Young, M.D.; Anita Yeager D.O.; Dipti Vanikar, M.D., and Balagi Vutla, M.D.

Additional assistance was provided by the staff and students of TPTC, Dr. Harrah's office, Teresa Calhoun's office, and medical assistant students and instructors from Everest Institute in Cross Lanes, according to the press release.

Teays Physical Therapy Center is located at 3910 Teays Valley Road.

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Photo courtesy of Teays Physical Therapy Center, Inc.

Pictured is the team of health professionals that provided 329 pre-participation sports physicals to high school and middle school athletes during "Gear-Up 2009" on Thursday, June 4.

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