TIFTON – Future nursing students will benefit from scholarship funds raised from the fifth annual “Run for the Nurses” event on April 2 sponsored by the School of Nursing and Health Sciences on the campus of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
The event includes a 5K run and half marathon. Both begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Health Sciences Building just off Moore Highway on the front campus of ABAC. All proceeds benefit the Lisa Purvis Allison Spirit of Nursing Scholarship Fund which assists in the education of future nursing students.
The cost for participants is $20 for the 5K and $30 for the half marathon if registered by Feb. 6. Between Feb. 7 and March 5, the cost for runners to register is $25 for the 5K and $35 for the half marathon. If participants register later than March 5, the cost for the 5K is $30 and the half marathon is $40. Interested participants can register online at www.active.com or at http://www.abac.edu/academics/schools/nursing/outreach/run-for-the-nurses for a printable registration form. Online pre-registration ends on March 31. Runners can still register on race day.
For more information on the “Run for the Nurses” event, interested persons can contact Becky Arnold at (229) 391-5024 or e-mail her at rarnold@abac.edu.
Trophies will be presented in the 5K and half marathon to the overall and master overall male and female finishers, and medals will be given to the top three male and female finishers in five-year age groups. All half marathon runners will receive a finisher’s medal. Trophies will also be awarded to the first male and female ABAC alumni to cross the finish line in each race.
The Lisa Purvis Allison Scholarship Fund was developed to honor Allison and assist other aspiring students in fulfilling their dreams of getting an ABAC education to become a registered nurse. The scholarship is awarded twice a year to a nursing student who meets the stated criteria to assist with final semester expenses. Nursing faculty and the family of Allison are involved in the selection process.
Arnold said Allison began the nursing program at ABAC as a single parent of two children following the death of her husband in a tragic accident. While completing the last year of the program, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. She was an outstanding student who personified the caring and compassionate nature of nursing. Upon graduation she successfully passed her state board exam and was licensed as a registered nurse. She lost her battle with cancer shortly after that time. 