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Lauren Pollard |
Members of the Global Medical Brigade – senior Evonne Sweeny, junior Madaiko Miller, senior Emily Romo, sophomore Danielle Strachan, junior John Skelton and sophomore Allison Marsh – work on raising money for trips to underprivileged parts of the world to provide medical attention and supplies. This new club to campus is currently working on raising money for a medical trip to Honduras. To cover the costs, they will host a talent show to raise money for their trip on May 7 in Founders Auditorium. |
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Sher Porter
Web Editor
Several clubs and organizations on campus do philanthropic work.
However the newly formed like the Global Medical Brigade takes giving to new heights.
The Global Medical Brigade is one of the newest organizations on campus, founded by junior biology major and president Madaiko Miller.
Her adviser and assistant professor of biology Jerome Garcia heard about the organization through the University of Southern California and brought the idea to Miller about starting a chapter at the University of La Verne.
She thought it was a great idea and accepted the challenge.
“It’s a nice opportunity. It’s something different on campus,” Miller said.
The main goal of the organization is to provide medical assistance to underdeveloped countries.
Students fundraise and ask people for money to purchase enough medical supplies for the people in those countries.
The organization’s main focus is Central America and each summer a trip is planned to travel down there and provide aid.
Students work hard in finding others to help give contribution and aid in countries that need help.
Students also have to find doctors and nurses and, if possible, dentists to travel to those countries and provide free aid.
This summer the organization is going to Honduras.
It is one of the 10 poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Each university is going during a different time through out the summer.
There can be a maximum of 60 students working at the village at one time.
ULV is going with Cal State University Fullerton.
While in Honduras the students and medical staff will set up brigades to give medical supplies to those who would otherwise not receive any treatment.
Since the students are not able to give medical treatment to the patients, they fulfill other tasks that need to be done.
Students check in patients, entering information and help fill in patient’s data for future use.
“It’s not going to be a vacation, but I think it’s going to be really important,” said John Skelton, a junior environmental biology major and physician recruiter.
Although the members are excited to go, there are some reservations about traveling to Honduras.
Senior liberal arts major and publicity Evonne Sweeney does not like needles and is not excited about the vaccinations.
Other than that, most of the travelers are all excited about the experience.
“I never felt like I was threatened in any way,” Skelton said.
The trip is going to cost roughly $1,650 and many of the students do not have the money to pay for the trip.
They have been planning several fundraisers to buy supplies, pay for their flight and stay in Honduras.
“I have a really good team working on fundraising,” Miller said.
So far they have had a fundraising event at Pick Up Stix, have gone door-to-door asking for money and have asked family members to support them. Some are still short for funds.
“I’m looking forward to knowing that we’re going,” Skelton said.
Since many people have not paid for the entire trip yet, unsure of how many people will attend the trip.
On May 7, they are planning to host a talent show in Founders Auditorium.
All proceeds will go toward the trip.
The Global Medical Brigades is open to all students of all majors.
They normally meet on Wednesdays but the meeting times change as weekly schedules change.
“It’s a chance for ULV students to make a change in what is going on down there,” Sweeney said.
For information, contact Miller at dr_miller7@yahoo.com.
Sher Porter can be reached at sporter4@ulv.edu. |
