The fifth annual Poor Man’s Run, hosted by St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy, is taking place on April 9. This event includes the one-mile fun-run beginning at 8 a.m., the 5k beginning at 8:30 a.m., and the jambalaya cook-off beginning at 10:30 a.m.
The mission of the Poor Man’s Run is to serve the medically underserved in the community. Many Americans lack access to health insurance despite the passing of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.
St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy is one of 1,200 health clinics that utilize volunteers and donations to provide health care to those who lack access to care. This local pharmacy serves 19 parishes in Louisiana. It opened in Monroe in April of 1999 and has been serving the community for the last 24 years and counting.
Every year, the College of Pharmacy holds the Poor Man’s Run to raise money for SVDP Community Pharmacy. The event last year became the biggest run to date, earning $8,675. With the pharmacy’s current return on investment being $14.50 of retail medications for every $1.00 of private donations, this amounts to $125,787.50 of retail medications being provided to patients in the community.
The early bird registration ends on March 9. This includes a five-dollar discount and a free t-shirt with sign-up.
The cost for the one-mile fun run is $25, the 5k is $35 and an added plate of jambalaya is $5.
The cost for the cook-off is $75 per team and $50 for student teams. A ticket to sample all jambalaya will be available for $15.
For more information on this event, please contact Jared Anders at andersjb@warhawks.umm.edu