The Alan G. Birtch, MD, Transplant Services at Memorial 5K Run/Walk will take place on Sept. 19 from 8 to 11 a.m. at Southwind Park in Springfield. The 5K Run/Walk begins at 9 a.m. with registration at 8 a.m. Participants will meet at Hope Pavilion.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Transplant 5K, celebrating two decades of community support for transplant patients and their families. Proceeds benefit Springfield Memorial Foundation’s transplant funds, which provide assistance with lodging, prescriptions, education and continuing program development for organ transplant patients.
“This popular annual event continues to show the incredible power of community support in helping our transplant patients and families during their most challenging times,” said Valerie Krohe, RN, nurse manager, Acute Dialysis, Apheresis and Transplant Care. “For 20 years, watching patients and donor families come together to share their experiences and raise funds for this cause has been truly inspiring.”
Registration is open online at https://memorial.health/transplant-5k-runwalk. Registration must be completed by Sept. 4 to be guaranteed an event T‑shirt with the anniversary logo. 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 registration packets on the day of the event or between noon and 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Carpenter Street Conference Center lobby, 228 W. Carpenter St., in Springfield. The event will be held rain or shine. Registrations are nonrefundable.
The transplant team follows and manages the care of approximately 350 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 Alan G. Birtch, MD, in 1973, the program has completed more than 1,175 transplant procedures.
In 2011, the transplant program was renamed The Alan G. Birtch, MD, Center for Transplant Services at Memorial. For more information, call 217‑588‑2417.