“Breathing Matters” 5K Vent Race and Health Fair: Respiratory Therapists Breathe Life into Local Lung Health Needs

[Press Release]

Rancho Cordova, CA – Machines better known for helping people in hospital intensive care units breathe easier will be hitting the road April 21 in an event sponsored by Respiratory Therapy students from San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) to raise money for local lung health issues.

The college’s first-time Ventilator 5K race will kick off at 9:00 am at the VillageGreenAmphitheater, 3141 Bridgeway Dr., Rancho Cordova, CA, with more than 5-teams that have each raised at least $500 in pledges. “The objective is to push the ventilator five kilometers,” says Bruce Dearing, SJVC’s Respiratory Therapy Program Assessment Coordinator. “Each team consists of a crew chief and pit crew, which will take turns pushing the ventilator.” Teams will decorate their rolling, 5-legged and approximately 3-4 ft. tall and 40-50 lb. ventilator, to reflect a theme they select, such as The Muppets, Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. Prizes will be awarded for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place finish, as well as best costume design.

Spearheaded by the American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF), the Ventilator 5K was officially launched in 2006 at the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) International Respiratory Congress in Las Vegas, NV. The Rancho Cordova event is one of hundreds that will be taking place all across the country over the course of the year. The unique feature of the Rancho Cordova event is that will include respiratory health education and a general health fair.

“The goal is to give respiratory therapists and students a fun and productive way to raise funds that can then be applied to lung health concerns in their own communities,” says Michael T. Amato, BS, chair of the ARCF Board of Trustees.

“Mechanical ventilators literally breathe life back into people who cannot breathe on their own. So we thought, what better machine to use in a fundraising event aimed at breathing new life into important projects to improve lung health right here in Rancho Cordova,” says Bruce Dearing.

Mr. Dearing says funds raised by the Rancho Cordova event will go to support Folsom Cordova Community Partnership, a local non-profit organization that works to enhance the education, health, and well being of the children, youth, and adults of our community.

The ARCF is tracking the events nationwide and will be awarding points for the most creatively decorated ventilator, best 5K course, most money raised, and other factors. Awards will be presented at the upcoming AARC International Respiratory Congress in San Antonio, TX, this December.

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is a not-for-profit, professional organization, consisting of more than 47,000 respiratory therapists, physicians, and other health care professionals. AARC is dedicated to assisting persons with respiratory diseases receive safe and effective respiratory care.

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) are specially trained and licensed respiratory health care professionals assisting physicians in diagnosis, treatment and management of respiratory diseases. RTs provide care in hospitals, outpatient centers, physicians’ offices, skilled nursing facilities and patients’ homes.

San Joaquin Valley College’s Respiratory Therapy (RT) program is 18-months of hands-on education and career training, which prepares students to be job-ready in a competitive industry. Graduates earn an Associate of Science degree and are eligible for state licensure and national credentialing examinations, including the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentials.

For participation information or how you can donate, please contact Bruce Dearing, RT Program Instructor-San Joaquin Valley College at (916) 638-7582.