This content was published: October 20, 2011. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Medical Assisting program students, staff take a walk to find a cure
Photos and story by James Hill
On Oct. 2, students from PCC’s Medical Assisting program joined a group of over 5,000 people in a walk to cure Type I diabetes. The organization that puts this walk together was the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which is the worldwide leading funder and advocate of diabetes science.
The PCC team reached 42 strong during the walk and raised $1,570 dollars towards a cure. Overall, the walk raised $200,000.
“They have been involved with funding research for a cure for over 40 years,” said Virginia Chambers, medical assisting instructor, of the foundation. “Every year around this time, thousands of people gather in Southeast Portland at Oak’s Amusement Park to show their support for this important cause.”
PCC’s name was broadcast during the event with members of the Medical Assisting program’s team wearing matching PCC t-shirts. The team was led by team captains and current students Stephen Date and Halley Bond, and included nine other students, the program director Jin Kim and program instructor Virginia Chambers, and 29 family members and friends.
“Something about getting thousands of community members together to strive for a common goal felt amazing to be a part of,” Chambers added. “All the PCC students and faculty that were there volunteered time to demonstrate their support for the health and welfare of the community. We hope that next year, PCC’s presence will be even greater as we continue to search for the cure.”