published: Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Dr. Tom McDonald 5K Race

Special to the News-Sun

Challenging, fun, scenic, supporting a great cause.

These are some of the descriptions of the Dr. Tom McDonald Caladium Festival 5K race.

The race honors the memory of a local, internationally-ranked runner who had the vision to begin this race as a part of the Caladium Festival, and once again have a 5K event in Lake Placid.

Starting time for this year's race is 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25.

Runners meet at First Presbyterian Church 117 N. Oak Ave, Lake Placid.

Registration forms are available at the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce office, the (FPC) First Presbyterian Church of Lake Placid office, or may be downloaded from www.fpclp.com.

The entry fee is $20 through Friday, Aug. 17, and $25 from Saturday, Aug. 18, through race day, and may be turned in at the office of First Presbyterian Church, 118 N Oak Ave. or may be mailed to the church at P.O. Box 326, Lake Placid, FL, 33862.

This year's shirts feature a new design on Dri-Fit material.

Also, on Friday, Aug. 24 from 4-6:30 p.m., there will be a pasta dinner fund raiser at FPC, proceeds to benefit the Samaritan's Touch Care Center.

Dinners are $8 each and you may eat in or take out.

There will be a concert at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary on Friday evening as well.

Tickets for the dinner are on sale at the church office, 863-465-2742.

Donations will be accepted to benefit Samaritan's Touch Care Center.

Awards for the race acknowledge first place overall for men and women, as well as first place Master's division (40+) male and female. Custom medals for 1st-3rd place in each 5-year age division, male and female, will also be awarded.

Those wishing to participate as walkers are certainly welcome as well.

The race is sponsored by the Lake Placid Christian Ministerial Association and benefits Samaritan's Touch Care Center, Lake Placid.

STCC provides free comprehensive primary and specialized health care to medically underserved patients whose income is at or below 200-percent of the Federal poverty guidelines and who have no health insurance of any kind.

These services are offered free of charge as part of the ongoing healing ministry of Jesus Christ.

STCC, Sebring has been providing life saving services since May of 2007.

The ministry of STCC has been saving lives and enriching the health of hundreds of patients in Highlands County.

The doors opened in Lake Placid to receive applications and begin the process of qualifying patients, as well as assessing their needs, on July 11, 2011.

The Lake Placid facility is located a comfortable and convenient building across from Devane Park, at 300 W. Interlake Blvd.

Samaritan's Touch Lake Placid is primarily dependent on volunteers to offer these services, which include helping patients to make use of the prescription assistance program for their medications.

Controlling blood pressure and diabetes are two of the primary offerings that make a huge difference in a person's health, while doing so as cost-efficiently as possible.

Dr. Donald Dawkins, an ER physician with Florida Hospital, is volunteering as the Medical Director of the Lake Placid branch.

There are opportunities for volunteers with or without medical experience, and applications to volunteer are also available at the Care Center.

A number of local churches and businesses have provided wonderful support for the Dr. Tom McDonald Caladium Festival 5K over the years.

Funds for this year's event are greatly needed as we are actively treating patients.

New sponsors are welcome to join in the support of the race and Samaritan's Touch Care Center.

For more information on sponsorship, please call 465-2742.