This year’s 5K Shade Tree Trot, the single largest source of funding for the Shade Tree Clinic, is set for Saturday, April 18, at 8 a.m. at the Vanderbilt football stadium.
Shade Tree is the free health clinic run by Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and provides care for acute and chronic illnesses, social services and health education to Nashville residents with limited resources.
Last year’s event, combined with the Shade Tree Benefit Dinner, raised about $40,000 to assist with the day-to-day operations of the clinic. The dinner, held March 25, raised about $33,000.
This year, organizers are hoping to reach $50,000 and draw about 1,000 participants.
Online registration for the event is open at www.shadetreeclinic.org/trot through April 16 at 4 p.m.
Race packet pick-up will be held Friday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Light Hall, North Lobby. Same-day registration and packet pick up begins on race day at 6:30 a.m.
The cost to participate is $25 for students and $30 for non-students via the website. Day-of-race registration is $30 for students and $35 for non-students.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds goes right back to the clinic,” said Margot Lazow, fourth-year medical student and member of the 5K planning committee.
“We even have a sleep-in option for those who want to donate and not attend the race. They will receive an official race t-shirt as well.”
There will be overall and age-group awards and prizes as well as live entertainment, snacks and family-friendly events.
Lazow gave the following examples of how donations help patients:
• $25 provides a pediatric dental exam and cleaning
• $50 pays for a two-week supply of insulin
• $100 covers a course of antibiotics for more than 100 different infections
• $250 buys a hearing aid
• $300 pays for 100 flu vaccinations
• $1,000 covers the cost of comprehensive prenatal care services
The clinic, which opened in 2004, provides hands-on experience for medical students from VUSM and Vanderbilt University School of Nursing.