The Virginia Western Community College nursing program announces the Nurses Run for Education Virtual 5K race to support the program, students and future front-line workers. Participants in the event can run or walk the 5K distance at the location of their choice from April 17 through Nurses Week May 14, 2021. T-shirt and donation funds raised for the event will support the Virginia Western Educational Foundation’s Nursing Program Fund.
To register for the event and to select your race T-shirt for participating, please visit: http://www.fuzzypickletshirts.com/vwcc5k. Participants can run or walk in the comfort of their own environment (or treadmill) and at their own pace without judgement. The purpose of this annual event is to support Virginia Western nursing students and the nursing program, while promoting a sense of community and compassion in the community.
“I am so proud to be a student in the Virginia Western nursing program. During this pandemic, it has become apparent that we need strong, capable, compassionate nurses across the country,” said Kara Gerenser, a first-year nursing student. “I couldn’t think of a better career choice than having the opportunity to help people every single day.”
“Our nursing program fund is new this year and we are thrilled to launch this race as a way to raise much-needed funds for our program and our students,” said Darla Summers, a nursing faculty member. “So many of our students will soon be front-line workers and they have been affected financially and personally by the COVID-19 pandemic like all of us. Public support will help them complete their education and be prepared with the knowledge and the skills they need to support our community medically through this time. In addition, funds go directly back to the nursing program to support innovative teaching methods, buy enhance medical equipment and resources for our students to keep up with the ever changing field of medical science. “
To donate online directly to the Nursing Program Fund, you can visit here and put “Nursing Program Fund” in the “Other” field. Your generous donation will support our future nurses and the nursing program.
“Nursing is my second career in life. I chose this program because I’ve had the privilege of working in the accounting/business side of healthcare for years and I’ve seen the negative effects of healthcare on people’s lives when they receive poor care,” said Deana Valade, a second-year nursing student. “As nurses, we are the front line workers with our patients so we start the domino effect of healthcare and we also finish it. We are a transfer of care that never ends. All of this is to say that Virginia Western’s RN program has shaped me into the nurse that I have always wanted to be and that is so vital in today’s healthcare.”
Virginia Western’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Nursing was established in 1972 to prepare students for licensure as a registered nurse. The nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.
The two-year nursing program has a competitive admissions process that attracts more than 500 applicants annually. Graduates complete more than 500 hours of clinical experiences providing direct patient care in the Roanoke Region. Nearly 90 percent of nursing graduates continue to live and work in the Roanoke Region after completing their studies.
Virginia Western and the Nursing Program thank our dedicated sponsors for this event:
GOLD
Carilion Clinic Neurosurgery
Carilion Clinic Orthopaedics
Christ Temple Bible Way
SILVER
Virginia Western Nursing Program
Medtronic
BRONZE
Dr. Thomas Frimpong, Complex Spine Neurosurgeon
Dr. Chine Sp Logan, Endovascular Neurosurgeon
Dr. Jonathan McNeal, Neurosurgeon
Dr. Andrew Nicholson, Neuro Interventional Radiologist
Dr. Bryan Collier, Trauma Surgeon
Schwartz & Associates, Inc., Consulting Engineers Roanoke-Lynchburg
Brad Thomas, Mountain View Restate
Big Lick Brewery
LewisGale Medical Center
A&E Foundations
Jason Bialeck Mortage Team Guaranteed Rate
Shear Perfection Salon
Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar
Fleet Feet
HONORABLE MENTION
Dr. Gary Simonds, Neurosurgeon
Dr. Edgar Weaver Jr., Neurosurgeon
