5K Run/Walk to Benefit Transplant Patients

The Alan G. Birtch, MD, Transplant Services 5K Run/Walk will take place on Sept. 21 from 8 to 11 a.m. at Southwind Park, in Springfield. Participants will meet at Hope Pavilion. The race begins at 9 a.m.

Proceeds benefit Springfield Memorial Foundation’s Transplant Assistance Fund, which provides assistance to organ transplant patients, education for patients and staff and continuing program development.

“We so appreciate the support from the community to help us raise funds to assist our patients and their families,” said Valerie Krohe, nurse manager, Acute Dialysis, Apheresis & Transplant Care. “It is always a special time as our patients and donor families come together to connect and share their stories.”

Registration is open online at https://memorial.health/medical-services/transplant-care/alan-birtch-5k. Registration must be completed by Sept. 6 to be guaranteed an event T-shirt. Registration will also be available the day of the event starting at 8 a.m.

Registration fee is $30 for adults and $20 for children 12 years old and younger. Registration increases by $5 per person on the day of the event.

Participants can pick up race packets on the day of the event or between noon and 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the Carpenter Street Conference Building Lobby, 224 W. Carpenter, Springfield. The event will be held rain or shine. Registrations are non-refundable.

The transplant team follows and manages the care of approximately 300 post-transplant patients and is a cooperative initiative involving Springfield Memorial Hospital, SIU School of Medicine and Springfield Clinic. Since its first transplant performed by Dr. Alan G. Birtch in 1973, the program has completed 1,108 transplant procedures.

In 2011, the transplant program was renamed The Alan G. Birtch, MD, Center for Transplant Services at Memorial.