A special benefit run/walk for the people of Haiti will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 31 on the Roadrunner trails at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac.

SMC and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Dowagiac are hosting the Hustle for Haiti, a 10K, 5K, and 2K run/walk, which will help raise funds to aid Haitians with water, food, and medical supplies through the Haiti Nursing Foundation, the St. Vincent’s Children’s School and Hospital, or the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer.

The Haiti Nursing Foundation supports a nursing program in Haiti led by Hilda Alcindor, dean of the program and who also was SMC’s 2009 commencement speaker.  The students and faculty have set up a temporary clinic to treat injured people in their community.

St. Vincent’s is a children’s school and hospital for handicapped children.  Hôpital Albert Schweitzer is one of the few hospitals left undamaged and functioning. For more information about each of these organizations, visit: www.haitinursing.org, www.friendsofstvincents.org or www.hash-aiti.org.

“This is an opportunity for participants to demonstrate their love and support for the Haitians,” said event coordinator Ron Gunn, who is a veteran of several medical mission trips to Haiti.

Dr. James Wierman, a Dowagiac physician, has lead several medical trips to the impoverished country. The next medical mission trip is scheduled for March 6-14.
Hustle for Haiti will be on SMC’s Roadrunner trails at the college’s Dowagiac campus. According to the long-range weather forecast conditions should be good, but if weather conditions prohibit the use of the trails, an alternative course will be set up on the roads around SMC’s campus. The event will be non-competitive, but at the end of the run a large time clock will give participants their finish time.

Registration will be from noon to 12:45 p.m. in the atrium of the SMC’s Student Activity Center, located in the Charles O. Zollar Building. There will be no advanced registration. Participants can park in the Dailey Road parking lot.

“The rewards of this event are intrinsic,” said Gunn, adding a certificate suitable for framing will be presented to each participant. A limited supply of colorful T-shirts will be for sale.
Following the race, participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a pasta buffet at the Wood Fire Restaurant in downtown Dowagiac.

The cost is $10 with $5 donated back to the relief fund.

There is no entry fee. Participants are encouraged to raise pledge money per kilometer. Participants should make out donation checks to the Haiti Nursing Foundation, the St. Vincent’s Center for the Handicapped, or the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer and mail or deliver the check to:

Dr. James Wierman, P.O. Box 378, 400 W. Division St. Dowagiac, MI 49047 or Dr. Fred Mathews, 27785 Burmax Park, Dowagiac, MI 49047.

For more information about the run, contact Ron Gunn at 269-782-1209 or e-mail at rgunn@swmich.edu.