Light Up The Night

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Class of 2017 medical students will host Light Up the Night, a glow-in-the-dark 5K race, as part of the Lubbock City Lights charity event, at 8:30 p.m. May 3 at the Texas Tech University campus. The race will begin and end at the Robert H. Ewalt Student Recreation Center at 3219 Main St.

Margaret O’Neal and Charles Rotenberry, first-year medical students, are co-chairs for the event. O’Neal said this is a new addition to the Lubbock City Lights charity event.

“This year our committee felt a night-time 5K race would be an exciting addition to raise funds for City Lights charities,” O’Neal said. “Our hope is to have the Lubbock and surrounding communities come out and participate and have a great time, all for the benefit of four great selected charities.”

Pre-registration is until April 16. Register before then to guarantee a shirt in the correct size. Cost of the event is $20 up to the day of the event. Participants can register the day of the event for $25.

Rotenberry said for those who need motivation to get moving, Light Up the Night is a great way to start.

“If you need motivation to get moving, sign up for Light Up the Night,” Rotenberry said. “This event is for all runners from the most experienced to those who want to start. Running is a great form of exercise and running for charity is an even better reason to get involved.”

Light Up The Night proceeds will go to the following charities:

• The TTUHSC Free Clinic at Lubbock Impact is a student-run initiative that offers medical services to the uninsured community of Lubbock, every Wednesday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. Each week, medical students and health care volunteers provide acute medical care, health education and social resource counseling.

• The Children’s Home of Lubbock provides services to children and youth consisting of human care, medical care, education, social adjustment education, rehabilitation and relief for impoverished children in need of food, shelter, clothing and other basic needs. Services are provided for children from several surrounding Texas counties. Since 1954 the Children’s Home has served more than 6,000 children of the South Plains.

• Lubbock Meals on Wheels is dedicated to providing and delivering hot, nutritious meals to the homebound, elderly or disabled. In the past several years, many additional programs and services have been added including emergency meals, pet food programs, senior food boxes, weekend meal programs, frozen holiday meal program and services. Currently, more than 625 meals are prepared and delivered daily by a volunteer force of more than 1,200 people.

• The Bridge of Lubbock offers several free services and outreach to students and families in the Lubbock area. Ms. Tammie’s closet offers clothing to families in need while Project: Prom provides prom dresses and suits to students who cannot afford their own. The Bridge also offers outreach during many holidays, providing hot meals to the homeless and low-income families. In addition, there are continuous mentoring, tutoring and after school programs for grades 1-12.

For more information or to register for Light Up the Night 5K, visit www.lubbockcitylights.org or email lubbockcitylights@ttuhsc.edu.

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