The Daily O’Collegian

“It was a last minute decision,” Hart said. “Right before the race, I just decided that I could walk it.”

For anyone else, the two-kilometer walk may not have been a big event, but for Kris Hart — who lost his leg in a New Year’s Eve car accident — the walk was monumental.

“It was an awesome feeling,” said Hart, second-year student at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa. “When I crossed that finish line, it was a small victory, but the rewarding feeling I got from it was just incredible.”

On the eve of 2001, during a cold storm, Hart and his family were traveling north on icy Interstate 35 when they witnessed a car accident.

“An Explorer that was about three cars in front of us slid off of the road,” he said. “I decided to pull over and make sure that everyone was okay.”

Hart’s wife and two children stayed in the car while he talked to the vehicle’s driver through the passenger-side window.

“Everyone was okay, but while I was talking to him, I saw the expression on his face change,” Hart said. “He was looking past me and his eyes just got wide. I knew something bad was behind me but I didn’t know what.”Hart turned around and saw another vehicle sliding toward him.

“I couldn’t do anything,” Hart said. “I just watched it hit me.”

Hart was pinned between the oncoming vehicle and the Explorer.

He suffered numerous injuries, including two broken ribs, several fractures and vascular and tissue damage to his leg. The injuries resulted in a month of recovery and the loss of his lower leg.

“I went into the hospital that night — December 31 — and I guess I got out on the second of February,” he said. “I’m still going through some rehabilitation.”

But while Hart was trying to recover from the horrific accident, hospital bills were piling up.

In an effort to help, fellow students at the College of Osteopathic Medicine decided the proceeds from the 22nd Annual Osteopathic Run should go to the Hart family.

Michael Pickens, race co-director, said the students at the school have tried hard to help Hart and his family.

“It’s been very embracing to see all of the support for him,” Pickens said. “Five of us worked on the race, but yesterday we had more than 75 volunteers — mostly people from his class — that came out to help us with anything we needed. It couldn’t have gone better.”

Saturday’s 8-kilometer run and 2-kilometer run followed the scenic route around Riverside Drive and were coordinated entirely by students.

Pickens said the hard work was more than worth it.“My fellow co-director, Vickie Gurfunkel, and I worked for about six months,” Pickens said. “There were actually about five people working on it, but as we got closer to the day of the race, the work mounted and there was more to be done.

“But the race was a much bigger success than last year’s race, and that made it even better.”

Pickens said almost 100 more people participated in this run than in previous years.

“We had about 300 runners and walkers, which is the biggest number we’ve had in awhile, but more importantly, we raised a lot more money,” he said.

The proceeds from the race — about $2,600 — will help pay Hart’s hospital expenses.

“We actually raised about $7,600, and $3,400 of that was all from Saturday, but $5,000 of the money goes straight back into the race fund so that we can pay for next year’s run,” Pickens explained. “But we still have some donation opportunities available for people who want to help Kris and his family. We want to raise as much as we can for him.”

Other competitors said they felt good about helping the Hart family.

Kevin Papen, participant in the eight-kilometer run, said he was glad to see the community reaching out to their own.

“I ran in the race because it’s a good race,” Papen said. “It’s a nice distance. But it is also a great cause, and that’s what makes a turnout like this such a good thing. We’re helping each other.”

Hart said he is amazed at the outpouring of support from the school and his friends and family.

“Of course, my wife has been the most helpful through all of this,” he said. “She has been through all of it with me.

“But the students and the school and their concern and help has just floored me. I feel very close to them all now, like a family.”