UNMC students encourage you to grab your tennis shoes, bikes and in-line skates for a good cause.
On Sunday, Oct. 24, the UNMC SHARING Clinic will sponsor “SHARING the Trail,” a non-competitive event for cyclist, runners, Rollerbladers and walkers with proceeds going toward the operational costs of the student-run SHARING, GOODLIFE and RESPECT clinics, which assist the underserved and underinsured of Omaha.
The inaugural event will be at Chalco Hills Recreation Area, 8901 S. 154 St. Participants may choose a 4-mile or 6.2-mile loop with other distances optional.
“The clinics are a big outreach to the community and serve about 1,400 patients annually,” said Adrienne James, a second-year medical student who volunteers in the clinics. “There are few clinics in Omaha that give free care without insurance, so if people don’t come they won’t get taken care of anywhere.”
“Sharing the Trail” participants will benefit the following student-run clinics:
- The SHARING Clinic (Student Health Alliance Reaching Indigent Needy Groups) serves underserved populations in the South Omaha Neighborhood Association (SONA) Building at 5211 S. 31st St. In operation since 1997, the clinic is open every Tuesday.
- The RESPECT Clinic (Responsible Early STD Prevention Education and Community Testing) is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and education of sexually transmitted diseases among South Omaha’s underserved persons. It opened in 2001 in the SONA building and serves patients every Wednesday.
- The GOOD LIFE Clinic (Greater Omaha Outreach for Diabetes Lifestyles Impacting Fitness and Education) opened in North Omaha at 5050 Ames Ave. in 2002 to provide low-cost care one Wednesday per month to indigent patients with Type II diabetes.
All the proceeds from the Oct. 24 event will cover operational costs of the clinic, James said. Organizers hope the “Share the Trail” fund-raiser complements its spring “Sharing the Green” golf tournament.
Keith Swarts, director of UNMC’s Business Services, is honorary chairman for the event, which begins at 8:45 a.m. for cyclists, 9 a.m. for runners and Rollerbladers and 9:15 a.m. for walkers. Registration and packet pick-up is from 8 to 9 a.m.
The registration fee for “Sharing the Trail” is $20 ($10 for students). Children under 12 years of age are free (no T-shirts). The fee includes a T-shirt and refreshments from 9:30 to 11 a.m. For registration forms click here or call the Center for Healthy Living at 559-5254 and have a form mailed or faxed. To guarantee receipt of a T-shirt, please register by Friday, Oct. 15. Individuals who register after Oct. 15 are not guaranteed a T-shirt.
The registration form also includes information for those who are unable to participate, but interested in making a donation.