The Kellogg Community College chapter of the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association is hosting a 5K run event this month to raise awareness about oral cancer.
The group’s Oral Cancer Awareness 5K Fun Run/Walk will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 28, in front of the Dental Hygiene Clinic entrance on the north side of KCC’s campus at 450 North Ave. in Battle Creek. Race check-in will begin at the same location at 10 a.m.
Participants with pets or strollers are also welcome, and will begin the race following the runners and walkers at 11:15 a.m.
Registration for the event is $25 before March 20 and can be completed online at http://bit.ly/SADHA5K. Registration after March 20 up to the day of the event is $30.
The registration fee includes a free T-shirt for the first 60 people registered, race snacks and a ticket for an oral cancer screening or a cleaning at KCC’s Dental Hygiene Clinic. All proceeds from the event will go to a Michigan-based oral cancer foundation.
Student organizers are also requesting donations of new or gently used shoes for their shoe donation drive, thought donations aren’t required to participate in the run/walk event.
The event is organized by the KCC SADHA chapter under the leadership of group presidents Kassandra Cary, Alivea Reyes, Rachel Schellie and Kaitlyn Waltz.
“As dental students, we recognize the importance of oral health and want to spread awareness about oral cancer,” Reyes said. “We also want to give back to the community.”
According to Oral Cancer Awareness Michigan, nearly 54,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancers this year, causing approximately 13,500 deaths in the U.S. alone.
More information about oral cancer – including information about prevention and risk factors – is available on the Oral Cancer Michigan website at oralcancermi.org. For more information about the Oral Cancer Awareness 5K Fun Run/Walk, contact Kassandra Cary at 269-245-2786.
Pictured above in KCC’s Dental Hygiene Clinic, from left to right, are KCC SADHA presidents Kaitlyn Waltz, Rachel Schellie, Alivea Reyes and Kassandra Cary.
For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online at https://daily.kellogg.edu/category/news-releases.