Two years ago today a massive earthquake struck Haiti and UNMC responded with a powerful and unprecedented relief effort.
Today UNMC employees are presented with another opportunity to help people in the island nation.
What: With a bicycle and $20, employees can take part in the April 14 Bike for Sight event, which is sponsored by the UNMC Department of Ophthalmology’s international division. The ride starts in downtown Omaha and lets participants travel 5, 10, 20 or 40 mile loops.
Why: The goal of the ride is to raise funds to help as many as 500 Haitians who are needlessly blind due to cataracts. All proceeds from the event will go to support a cataract surgery camp at Justinien hospital in Cape Haitien. In May, a team led by Michael Feilmeier, M.D., medical director of the international division, will travel to the hospital. So far, enough funds have been raised to support only three days of cataract surgeries. The team wants to raise enough money to do several more days.
When: April 14 in downtown Omaha.
Registration: The ride costs $20, which is what it will cost to conduct one sight-restoring surgery in Haiti. Sign up now!