by Alyssa Speicher, Public Relations Writer
Cedarville University School of Pharmacy students will partner with local nonprofit at its annual 5K BridgeWalk on September 23 in Xenia, Ohio. The family-friendly walk will begin at 9 a.m. at Xenia Station.
As part of the event, Cedarville students will hold an educational session on the dangers of opioid addiction, while also encouraging 5K participants to be a 鈥渟eed of hope鈥 in the community.
鈥淭he purpose for the walk is twofold,鈥 said Marlene Labig, president of Jeremiah Tree's board of directors. 鈥淔irst, the Bridge Walk is one of our primary fundraisers. Second, it鈥檚 educational; this year, the walk is about addiction and all the problems that come along with it.鈥
During the walk, students from Cedarville鈥檚 student chapter of the American Pharmacy Association, GenerationRx and the Student National Pharmacy Association will be stationed at educational checkpoints, offering information on topics such as recognizing the signs of addiction, prescription and recreational drug abuse, statistics about Greene County drug addiction and treatment options.
Cedarville nursing students will also staff the first aid station at the walk.
鈥淭he Jeremiah Tree Walk event has a message that needs to be spread around in a million different ways,鈥 said Stephanie Wu, co-chair of Cedarville's chapter of GenerationRx. 鈥淭his event is just a part of spreading awareness on the gravity of addiction. The walk is not only for the addicted, but also for those who love and care for them.鈥
strives to help those in the community struggling with homelessness, poverty and/or addiction. Its Tree House men鈥檚 recovery ministry provides full-time, residential counseling and training for men struggling with addiction. The Jeremiah Tree believes that true change cannot happen without spiritual transformation.
鈥淎s a university, It鈥檚 exciting to partner with community organizations that have their heart鈥檚 desire to encourage spiritual transformation and intervention in a problem like this,鈥 said Cynthia Burban, director of community engagement in the school of pharmacy.
鈥淲e all hear about the national drug addiction crisis and often wish we could do something about it,鈥 added pharmacy student Sarah Piraino. 鈥淭he BridgeWalk is a wonderful opportunity to do that by supporting a faith-based organization that fights drug abuse right here in Greene County.鈥
The walk is open to everyone in the community, including families and children. The online registration fee for youth is $10, and adult registration is $25. Anyone can download a 5K pledge sheet to raise money to support the Jeremiah Tree, and those interested in volunteering can reach them at (937) 562-3121 or .
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,963 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.