The fifth annual Brad Baker Race for Sight 5K kicks off Saturday, March 5 at 9 a.m. at Shelby Farms. Hosted by Hamilton Eye Institute (HEI) Lions Club, the race serves as a fundraiser to provide vision treatments for underserved people in Memphis and abroad.
“We’re unique as a Lions Club since we’re all doctors and medical students. It’s totally governed by residents and medical students, and it’s the students who put on the race each year. The race typically raises around $20,000 a year. It’s life-changing because we’re able to give people back their ability to work, to see their family, and to become productive members of society. On an international level, we provide hope and surgical vision care to people who wouldn’t have access to it otherwise,” said Natalie Kerr, MD, FACS, executive vice chair of
at UTHSC and founder of the HEI Lions Club.
While the mission abroad has been on hold for the past two years due to COVID-19, Dr. Kerr hopes to go back this fall. Dr. Kerr says the race allows the HEI Lions Club to accomplish life-changing work while acting as a service opportunity for medical residents and students, teaching them to be advocates for patients who are unable to afford care.
“This race funds surgical missions that are local as well as international. Locally, we run the HEI Lions Club Cataract-A-Thon, which provides cataract surgery for folks who don’t have insurance or Medicare. We do all the surgeries in a single Saturday at our surgery center. Internationally, we have a pediatric ophthalmology mission in Guatemala as well as a mission in Haiti,” said Dr. Kerr.
Race registration is $20, and $15 for students. A virtual race option is also available. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3tyxf6uz.