Columbia Falls healthcare practitioners Laura Hall of Heaven’s Peak Healthcare and Dulcie Berube of Berube Physical Therapy presented Columbia Falls High School with a $1,120 check derived from money earned through sports physical fees, late last week.

The donation, received by athletic director Troy Bowman, will be used to support the school’s sports medicine education program.

Ordinarily, Columbia Falls High School provides the fall sports physicals venue, hosting six to a dozen physical therapists from local clinics who volunteer to help evaluate student athletes. Typically the school charges students a $25 fee and proceeds are directed back to the athletic department, into the activity account for a sports medicine class titled “Modern Principles of Athletic Training.”

The account pays for classroom supplies such as the tape, prewrap, scissors and zip-cutters needed for students to practice hands-on practical taping.

It also helps fund an annual field trip to the University of Montana where students sit in on an athletic training class before shadowing student athletic trainers and university training staff as they work a Griz football game.

This year, due to coronavirus precautions, the high school was unable to provide the sports physicals. Instead Heaven’s Peak Healthcare, in partnership with Berube Physical Therapy, assisted the school by hosting a date and time, advertised by the district, where students could obtain their checkup. The clinic charged nominal $20 fees for the service, all of which were given back to the school on Friday.

“Wasn’t expecting it,” said Bowman in regards to the recent generosity. “You know, since we didn’t do the physicals here at the school. But [it was] a very nice and welcome gesture. I’m just thankful. It helps keep us running.”