By Sara Nahrwold
Students can break a sweat in their red and green festive socks and sweaters to help an on-campus group raise money to aid those in need of medical attention.
From 6:30 to 8 p.m. tonight in the Student Center Multipurpose Room, students can do their Zumba workout in Christmas attire while donating to the Timmy Global Health Organization.
Participants are required to pay $2 at the door and can come and go throughout the two hour event.
The Ball State chapter of Timmy Global Health collects money throughout the year in order to go to Ecuador over Spring Break to help out those who can’t make it to a medical facility because of their location in the country.
“It’s a non-profit that is at a lot of schools in the U.S. and a bunch of college students get together and they volunteer to either go to Ecuador, Guatemala or the Dominican Republic,” said Morgan McCloskey, a junior health science major and medical professional recruitment chair. “We get a bunch of doctors together, all voluntary, and provide medical care to third world countries who can’t provide it for themselves.”
Those they help are approximately five hours away from the nearest town.
People pay 50 cents for a medical ticket to receive medical care or any medicine.
Each Spring Break, about 18 students and 10 medical professionals travel to Tena, Ecuador to assist people with medical needs.
“Every morning, we travel to different local communities and provide free health care,” said Emily Miller, a senior health science major and chapter president. “We take down with us and distribute the medical supplies that the patients would have no means of getting.”
The Ball State chapter has grown from about five students last year to 50 this year, Miller said. The group volunteers locally in Muncie but is also an advocate on a global scale.
“It’s a great way to get directly involved in global health issues,” she said. “It’s not an organization that is just collecting money.”
Zumba won’t be the only part of the evening, the group will also be talking about numerous health issues and bring them to light for students. The event is meant to be fun, active and include advocacy about Timmy Global Health.
The students hosting the event hope through the workout students will be more aware of what the organization is about.
“Zumba isn’t new but the Christmas thing makes it more exciting and gives people something to do and give back,” said Kelly McMasters, a junior visual communications major and fundraising chair. “It’s great for them to enhance their own exercise and give back to people in Ecuador who need health care.”
In addition to tonight’s event, Timmy Global Health has been nominated through Chase Giving Awards as one of the top 25 organizations in the United States. The organization will have laptops available for students to vote.
