UWG Hosts Rapha Clinic Annual 5K Fundraiser 

Rapha Clinic of West Georgia is having their 9th annual 5K event on April 19, organized by UWG’s Emerging Healthcare Leaders. The 5k is a fundraiser event for the clinic and will begin at 10 a.m. at the Greenbelt Hobbs Farm. Registration opens 30 minutes before the 5k and requires a $25 registration fee, or $20 for participants who register early. All proceeds go to support the clinic.

Rapha Clinic is a faith-based non-profit clinic offering low-cost health and dental care to uninsured adults who are at or below the federal poverty level. The clinic hosts multiple fundraiser events a year to raise awareness and bring in funding to help continue their work.

“The funds we [generate] go to general operations,” said Developmental Director, Patrick Calvillo. “We’re a nonprofit health and dental clinic, so anytime that we do fundraisers it kind of just goes to general operations. Just kind of keeping the place going and programming.” 

So far, Rapha has raised over $250 from the 5k with a general goal of $3000. 

“We usually raise a few thousand and it’s always nice to get a little bit extra,” said Cavillo. “I think the main goal is just to have more exposure and more participants in the 5K.”

While the 5k registration fee is a donation, anyone can donate at any time as much or as little as they would like. There is no requirement for donations or involvement.

“If they just want to donate, they can always just donate,” said Cavillo. “There is a QR code on our website… so they can always just donate on our website and don’t necessarily have to participate in the 5K.”

People who are interested in the 5K but hesitant about running the full distance can still participate in Rapha’s fundraiser. Instead of being a competitive race, it’s an opportunity for the community to participate in a healthy event that goes toward a good cause. There is no pressure to perform in any specific way, just come as you are.”

It is a run-and-walk 5K so you don’t necessarily have to run,” said Calvillo. “I think that was one of the main things a lot of people were like ‘Well I don’t really want to do a 5k’ and it’s like ‘Oh well you can walk it.’”

Rapha Clinic has several opportunities for the community to show support year round including volunteer options and other events. Just recently, Rapha hosted their 5th annual Fore Your Health Golf Tournament on April 4, raising just over $6000. More information on upcoming fundraising events, like self-defense classes and music festivals are posted on www.raphaclinic.org. 

“Our next big fundraiser is The Sound of Medicine which will be on University of West Georgia’s campus in September or October,” said Calvillo. “That’s open to students as well and it’s a music fundraiser. A bunch of bands play, and we have food and a silent auction, so that’s a lot of fun and it’s targeted for anybody and everybody.”