Registration deadline for the 5k May 2nd event
at Independence Oaks Park is April 29. The fee to run or walk is $30. Sign up
at www.morcinc.org/events/morc-miles-for-smiles
or contact Jennifer Lasceski at (586) 416-2075
By JERRY WOLFFE
A 5K run/walk at the Independence Oaks County Park in
Clarkston on May 2 is expected to have about 300 participants with the goal of
raising at least $10,000 to provide for dental care for people with
disabilities that the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Inc. serves.
It is the fourth year for the event and about 200 people ran
or walked last year along the paved path in the park.
“It’s very hard to find dentists because a lot of our
individuals need to be sedated to get dental work and that’s not covered by any
insurance or Medicaid,” said Kerri Pfaffenberger, a speech pathologist at MORC,
based in Clinton Township.
She said it can cost $1,000 alone just to sedate someone
with a severe disability so a dentist can work on their teeth.
Too many times people with disabilities do not receive
proper dental care and hygiene and end up in hospitals with systemic infections
that result from an abscessed tooth, costing as much as $100,000, when early
treatment could have prevented hospitalization.
The deadline to register for the event is April 29. Check-in
for participants will be at Twin Chimneys Shelter beginning at 8:30 a.m. The
5k, or 3.1 mile race, begins at 10 a.m. There also is a one-quarter mile walk
that begins shortly after the runners take off.
“We walk the course a couple of days ahead of time,”
Pfaffenberger said, noting it is wheelchair accessible. “This year we are
having the MORC Choir sing the National Anthem before the 10 a.m. start.”
“We were looking for alternative ways to raise money but the
5K seemed to be a very good fund-raising event,” said Pfaffenberger. “There are
a lot of people in the community who participate because they enjoy the park,
the cause and they know about MORC helping those with disabilities,” she said.
Awards will be presented to the top three male and female 5K run finishers overall and top three
in each division: 14 & under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over. Separate awards will be given for
top three 5k overall walkers, Pfaffenberger said.
Prizes also include medals and gift certificates to
different running stores. A “tin can” raffle will be on-site too that day.
“Response from the public has been wonderful,” said
Pfaffenberger.
Jerry Wolffe is the writer-in-residence,
advocate-at-large at the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center. He can be reached at
(586) 263-8950.
