This year’s Mind Over Matter 5K honors Sidonie Morrison, whose participation in the program helped inspire its development and mission.

Honoring Sidonie Morrison

The Fit For Life, Mind Over Matter 5K proudly honors the life of Sidonie Morrison, whose dedication to education, research, and community continues to inspire the work we do today.

Sidonie was a devoted researcher and professor at Stony Brook University, where she spent nearly five decades educating medical students and mentoring young scientists. Her work in biomedical education and research, particularly in immunology and viral diseases, including HIV and its effects on the immune system, reflected a lifelong commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and guiding future generations in the understanding of human health.

Beyond her academic achievements, Sidonie was also a participant in the Mind Over Matter program, a Fit For Life initiative designed to help individuals living with neurodegenerative conditions build physical and cognitive resilience through functional exercise, music, and cognitive engagement. Her love of music and movement often brought energy and laughter to each session and helped us recognize the powerful relationship between musical influence, exercise, and the cognitive layering approach that is now a central part of the program. Seeing how strongly she responded to these elements helped spark a deeper commitment to expanding Mind Over Matter so it could support others living with similar conditions while continuing to explore the connection between music, movement, cognitive engagement, and brain health.

Sidonie’s lifelong dedication to research, education, and mentorship reflects many of the same values that guide the mission of Fit For Life today. As we continue to expand the Mind Over Matter program and deepen our understanding of how movement, music, and cognitive engagement support brain health, we honor Sidonie’s life through this event. The Fit For Life Mind Over Matter 5K raises awareness and support for individuals living with cognitive impairment while helping us continue to develop programs that promote resilience, delay progression and improve quality of life.