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“We Serve” Feature: Restoring Hope Through a Run/Ruck


The Apryle Showers event helps those diagnosed with cancer.

As part of Floyd Lee Locums volunteerism program, “We Serve,” we encourage employees to partner with people and programs that better the communities we live in. Recently, our VP of Organizational Effectiveness, Michelle Lathan, and Operations Specialist, Averie Queitsch took up the call and supported Apryle Showers in its 10K Run/Ruck event.

Apryle Showers Logo

Apryle Showers is a Florida non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with a cancer diagnosis between the ages of 30-55 who are currently undergoing treatment for any type of cancer. The organization is inspired by the brave journey of Apryle Schmidt. who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2015—but not before starting this inspiring organization dedicated to helping others diagnosed with cancer.

Apryle Showers offers services that help foster hope, healing, restoration, and peace to people during their treatment journey who reside in Florida’s five-county area of the First Coast, including Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau and Baker counties. They provide recovery retreats for the families affected by cancer, so they can have any possible reprieve from their disease to spend time with loved ones, gain perspective, and reflect.

On April 10, the non-profit put on its Fifth Annual Apryle Showers Run/Ruck to raise funds for the organization. Michelle, Averie, and their Ruck Club decided to join in on the fun!

“Averie and I decided to participate in the Apryle Showers 10K Run/Ruck, and celebrate the We Serve philosophy at Floyd Lee Locums” said Lathan. “In total, we had over 100 members of our ruck club show up for the event, and there were 375+ participants from our community in total.”

For the uninitiated, a “ruck” is a little different than a run, in that the participant can complete the event at whatever pace is right for them, even walking. But they typically carry gear, which makes it a low-intensity way for people to get the cardiovascular benefits with the added bonus of strength training.

Three Floyd Lee employees participate in the Apryle Showers Run/Ruck

This isn’t Michelle’s first run/ruck either. Recently, she was also the proud participant of the 9/11 Heroes Run/Ruck, supporting the Travis Manion Foundation. This type of giving mixes Michelle and Averie’s passion as proud CrossFitters, with the generosity of supporting non-profits in their community.

We salute Michelle and Averie’s continued dedication to making a difference in their community.

Learn more about our We Serve program of corporate volunteerism and community engagement.

About Floyd Lee Locums

Floyd Lee Locums provides an elite concierge experience to physicians and advanced practice healthcare clinicians in hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide. Named the 2020 and 2021 “Best Staffing Firm to Temp For” by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), their hands-on approach to delivering best-in-class service, personalized career solutions, and coverage that positively impacts patient outcomes is setting a new standard in the locums industry.