Hundreds of runners and walkers will gather at the former Whittier Middle School in Flint at 9 a.m. May 5 for the inaugural Flintstone Challenge 5K. Proceeds from the event will benefit Flint Community Schools Classroom Support Fund.
The event was established by a group of fourth-year medical students from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine who wanted to leave a tangible legacy for the community in which they have spent two years of their training. Flint is home to one of the college's seven community campuses located throughout Michigan.
“The city of Flint has provided us with an incredible clinical education and we feel especially connected to the people of Flint,” said Rachel Paneth-Pollak, an event steering committee member. “We would relish the opportunity to give something to the education of this city’s youth.”
The Flintstone Challenge 5K was envisioned as an annual non-profit event, run entirely by College of Human Medicine students with advisory support from the university. Proceeds will support special educational programs for children in Flint Community Schools.
“As students ourselves, we value the power of education and we believe that nurturing the education of Flint’s children will build the future leaders of this community,” added steering committee chair Luda Khait. “We believe that the creativity, education and motivation of Flint’s children will help build a vibrant, successful future for Flint.”
For more information and to register, visit www.flintchallenge.org.