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Covering Monmouth, Dallas, Independence and Falls City since 1868 |
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| CHS students plan Race for Hope |
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| INDEPENDENCE - Five Central High School students have spearheaded a fundraising race this weekend to support Portland-based medical teams who do outreach in countries suffering from poverty, conflict or natural disasters.
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 | | Photo by Adam Korst | | The “Race for Hope” is the brainchild of Central High students (from left) Molly Mack, Brittany Hinds, Jennifer Lippert and Helena Riddell. Also involved but not pictured is Jordan Huffman. |
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By Craig Coleman
INDEPENDENCE - Five Central High School students have spearheaded a fundraising race this weekend to support Portland-based medical teams who do outreach in countries suffering from poverty, conflict or natural disasters.
The "Race for Hope" will begin with a 400-meter dash for children at 1 p.m. on the high school track, followed by a 3K run for teens and adults at 1:30.
Entry fees are a suggested $5 donation for adults and $2 for kids. A raffle for prizes ranging from day-spa trips to manicures will be held. Price for two tickets is $1.
All proceeds will go to Medical Teams International (MTI), a nonprofit organization that annually sends volunteer doctors and nurses to struggling nations to do humanitarian relief.
Central High senior Molly Mack said the idea for the event came after she and her church youth group visited during spring break an MTI educational exhibit in Tigard called "Real Life."
The multisensory display depicts life-like scenes of Ugandan camp for people displaced by terrorism, a triage center in post-Katrina New Orleans and a refugee camp in Kosovo.
Mack said she, Brittany Hinds, Jennifer Lippert, Helena Riddell and Jordan Huffman set out to put together supply kits to donate to MTI, but soon decided "we wanted to do something big and do as much as we can."
The group settled on a benefit run, approached Central High officials about reserving the track facility, made fliers and posters, and fanned out across Monmouth and Independence to secure raffle donations from citizens and area businesses.
The scope of the event has grown considerably, Mack said.
"We were thinking a few friends might help, but once we contacted people we started getting more support than we thought we would," she said.
Because MTI team members are professionals who volunteer their services, the money collected can go straight to supplies. Every $30 donated equates to $3,900-worth of humanitarian aid to people in need, according to the MTI web site.
"We've gotten a lot of response and raised a lot of awareness," Mack said. "A few dollars can make a big difference."
For more information: FUNRUN_central@hotmail.com or call Ben Peterson at 503-881-3970. Direct contributions can also be made by visiting www.medicalteams.org. |
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