On Saturday, March 25, PNWU will host our annual Run For Your Life 5K and Health Fair. Kicking off from in front of BHH at 9 a.m., the community event aims to support MultiCare Yakima Memorial Children’s Village, a clinic that provides help for children with developmental disabilities in Yakima.
In anticipation of the race, we caught up with Student Doctor and 5K/health fair organizer Katelyn Bonny to discuss the health fair, the race, and the great cause the annual event is supporting.
Can you give me some insight into the health fair? Who will be there, what will they be doing, what can participants look forward to, etc.?
We thought this annual event would be the perfect opportunity to promote health and wellness to the community!
We have booths from MultiCare Memorial, Renu Hot Yoga, High Steppe Climbing, YMCA, various PNWU-COM and PT groups/clubs, and many more! Booths range from pre-race stretching (led by Renu Hot Yoga instructors), healthy eating resources, dental caries education, various health screenings, CPR training, and promotion of local businesses/organizations dedicated to health and wellness.
Of all the 5Ks in the Valley, why should people sign up for RFYL?
This race is not only a great way to get some exercise in, but it’s a great way to benefit local children and their families in our community who have special healthcare needs.
What will you be doing on the day of the 5K?
Although I would love to run, I’ll be heading up the Health Fair, assisting vendors in getting ready to go so that everything is setup and ready for when runners and community members join!
Why is it so important for PNWU to host efforts like this, which support community partners and bring our community to campus?
We have the capacity and capabilities to bring the community together in pursuit of revolutionizing healthcare. Revolutionizing healthcare doesn’t always have to be the momentous lifesaving discoveries. Sometimes, it can just be the simple encouragement and promotion of health and wellness in our own communities to better improve health outcomes.
Sometimes, as a medical student, it can be hard to see my role in the healthcare setting. Helping organize events like this helps me see beyond the day-to-day academic rigor of medical school and more into what serving the community can look like.
I am most excited for the health fair in hopes that it is an eye opener to the community of the many resources available to them!