UNC School of Medicine students completed a half marathon in Durham in early December and donated their race medals to pediatric patients at the UNC Hospitals Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Clinic. The students are part of a new student organization, Medals4Mettle.
UNC School of Medicine students ran a half marathon in Durham in early December and awarded their medals to children in the UNC Hospitals Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Clinic.
The seven students ran as part of the UNC-Chapel Hill branch of an organization called Medals4Mettle. Medals4Mettle is a national organization in which people donate race medals earned from endurance events to patients undergoing treatment for debilitating illness in honor of their courage and resilience.
The medical students trained for several months and met early on race morning to run a rainy half-marathon and earn medals. They wrote messages of encouragement on the back of the medals and handed them out in the clinic. The children were excited to receive the medals and make new friends in the hospital. The students were equally as excited to encourage patients on their treatment journey.
This was the inaugural race for the UNC-Chapel Hill branch of Medals4Mettle. Looking ahead, students will participate in one endurance event in both the spring and fall semesters. They look forward to donating more medals and continuing to brighten patients’ days.
UNC School of Medicine students interested in joining, or those who have medals they would like to donate, can reach out to Aly Chura or visit the Heel Life website for more information and to request membership.