Why I'm Participating in the Big House 5K: Allison Mankowski & Benjamin Dempsey-Klott
2/22/2018 6:30:00 AM | Features, Community Engagement
The 2018 Big House 5K: Trail to the Victors presented by Toyota on Sunday, April 8, will benefit six local, non-profit organizations selected based on the support they provide to our Washtenaw County community in key areas like housing, healthcare, the arts, youth programming and social services. In the weeks leading up to the race, MGoBlue.com will share stories from people inspired to participate this year because of one of the beneficiaries.
By Allison Mankowski
I've run in a handful of 5K races over the years. The races I've run in the past were usually picked because they fell on a convenient date, were in a convenient location or a friend encouraged me to join them. When I signed up to run the Big House 5K, I signed up not just to run another race, but to support an organization that I care so much about.
The Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools (RAHS) provides much-needed medical care to youth in Washtenaw and Genesee Counties through school-based health centers. Its health centers are strategically positioned within the community to provide youth with high-quality physical, emotional, and preventive healthcare in an easily accessible, supportive and youth-friendly environment.
As a RAHS dietitian, I've been able to provide nutrition counseling to many students who otherwise may have never had the opportunity to work with a dietitian. I've seen firsthand how much this counseling, combined with the additional mental and physical health services we provide, can impact not just the student's life but the family as a whole. Students who receive services through us are healthier and happier because of it.
For the first time I find myself excited to run a race, not just because it's helping me stick to a training plan or giving me something fun to do with friends, but because by running the Big House 5K, I'm helping to support a program that provides an invaluable service to numerous youth who may not otherwise get such critical and comprehensive care.
By Benjamin Dempsey-Klott
I am participating in the Big House 5k for a couple of reasons. The first is that I love to run! In general, I get 2-3 runs in a week, each lasting anywhere between 8-12 miles. My favorite time to go for these runs is early in the morning; I work in Flint but live in Detroit, so most mornings during the week I am out and hitting the pavement by about 5 a.m. This time provides me the opportunity to set my mood for the day, organize my thoughts and get ready to take the day by storm. It also allows me to eat pizza, which is my favorite!
The second reason I am running is to help support the Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools (RAHS). RAHS runs 11 school-based health centers in Washtenaw County and has just opened another five centers in Genesee County. We provide all sorts of support, both medical and social, to the medically underserved populations in both counties. It provides me with a chance to give back to those who don't have as much as I do. While it can be very hard emotionally, the rewards of watching kids receive what they need to succeed is absolutely the best thing!
To register for the Big House 5K: Trail to the Victors presented by Toyota and further support our race beneficiaries, visit MGoBlue.com/bighouse5k.
About Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools
Established in 1996, the mission of the Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools (RAHS) at Michigan Medicine is to provide school-based health programs and clinical services that improve the well-being of students, their families and communities. Through RAHS' 11 school-based health centers, youth receive high quality physical, emotional, and preventive healthcare in an easily accessible, supportive, and youth-friendly environment. RAHS staff is comprised of more than 60 multidisciplinary professionals who are responsive to the needs of the diverse populations in Washtenaw and Genesee Counties. RAHS provides a variety of physical health care, behavioral health and prevention services to meet the unique needs of youth in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Flint. RAHS is grateful for the continued support from Michigan Medicine, our community partners and funders that allow us to comprehensively meet the needs of youth in our communities. For more information, visit umhs-rahs.org.
