Linda Siple, Nichole Thoms, Austin Schwickerath and Jane Prichard rake up leaves for the Floyd Valley Hospital Physical Therapy staff's Achin' for a Rakin'. Every year, they volunteer to rake up lawns of several people, usually their patients, who might have a hard time getting it done on their own. [Click to enlarge]

Changing leaves are falling, scattering colors across grassy lawns.

But to some, this picture means an insurmountable task -- raking leaves.

That's why members of the physical therapy department at Floyd Valley Hospital decided to help out with a project: Achin' for a Rakin'.

Every year, they pick one Saturday, grab their rakes, and get to work raking four or five lawns for people that might not be able to tackle it on their own.

"We do it as a service to the community, and we focus on our patients, people we've seen in the last year who probably don't have family in the area and have had an injury, or maybe they're at the age where raking isn't doable," said physical therapist Jerry DeWit.

And if the gutters need it, the group cleans leaves out of them, too

At Le Mars' Well Aware Health Fair, members of the physical therapy department had local residents enter their names if they wanted their lawns raked. As a group, the physical therapy department picks about four names.

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"Usually about 18-20 of us rake," DeWit said. "Often spouses come and kids, too, so it really becomes a family outing."

Achin' for a Rakin' also gives the physical therapy employees a chance to visit with patients outside their department.

"It's enjoyable because we typically know the people -- that really makes it more fun," DeWit said. "It's a very good tradition.

This is their third year doing Achin' for a Rakin', which was started in Le Mars by a physical therapist who used to work at Floyd Valley Hospital.

DeWit also offered a few tips for people to protect their body while raking:

*Don't always rake with your dominant side. If you are right handed, try raking left handed for a while.

"That will give you more balance and help prevent blisters," DeWit said.

*Wear gloves. They help prevent blisters as well.

*Rake all the leaves onto a bed sheet and carry it to your truck with a group of people rather than putting the leaves in bags or garbage cans.

"Putting it in bags and lifting cans is way harder on your back," DeWit said. "It's less hard on your body to lift and carry the sheet."