NHI Makes ‘Best Buddies’ at San Simeon

by Joe Bob Smith

NHI Student William King

Generally, the National Holistic Institute Sports Massage Team doesn’t travel so far for an event, but this one was too good to pass up. The Best Buddies Challenge at the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA, promised to have the energy of a big family gathering – as participants, sponsors and notable guests celebrated and raised funds for people with intellectual disabilities. It didn’t disappoint!

The NHI students joined others to create a team of 31 massage therapists. They provided 465 15-minute massage to cyclists in 100-, 62-, 35- and 15-mile bike rides as well as 3k walkers and 5k runners. Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis and California First Lady Maria Shriver were among the celebrities in attendance.

NHI student William King reports, “This event was run very well. The next day we remarked to each other that we would do it again next year. The athletes were so thankful of our skills and we had good feedback from all of them. To be appreciated in such a way, combined with the valuable experience is an unbeatable combination and I would recommend events like the Best Buddies Challenge to any student or practicing Massage Therapist.”