SC Connecticut News

Almost 450 members of the Yale and New Haven community gathered on Sunday, October 6, to participate in the 10th annual ANDA 5K at Edgewood Park. The event supported the HAVEN Free Clinic, a student-run initiative providing free comprehensive healthcare to uninsured adults in New Haven. This year marks HAVEN's 20th anniversary.

The clinic involves students from various Yale schools, including Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Law School, and School of Management. The diversity of engagement was evident as students, faculty, and staff participated in or supported the event.

Organizers aimed to raise $35,000—about 70% of the clinic’s budget—but exceeded expectations by collecting over $40,000 through registrations, donations, and corporate sponsorships. Sponsors included Yale’s Office of New Haven and State Affairs, Mills & Cahill Law Firm, Pedals Smoothie and Juice Bar, New England Brewing Co., Koffee? Katering, Alvarium Beer Co., and Ascent Climbing. Participants could register individually or join one of over 30 teams with creative names like Keep up the PAce!, MedEd Milers, and YCCI Joggernauts.

Christina Cabading (MPH '25), a member of the organizing team stated: “Providing inclusive, accessible care is the core of what HAVEN stands for. The funds we raise through the 5K go directly towards helping us provide that care.” She added: “Witnessing more than 400 people come together for this cause was truly moving. Having grown up in a rural part of California where accessing care was a constant challenge, I joined HAVEN to be part of the solution. It’s deeply fulfilling to work alongside a community that’s just as committed to ensuring that everyone has access to the care they deserve."

According to the ANDA 5K website, all funds raised go towards patient care:

- $25 covers one complete blood test

- $50 covers one hepatitis B vaccine

- $165 covers a comprehensive patient visit

- $439 supports one patient's care for an entire year

In 2023 alone, HAVEN served over 600 patients.

The organizing team included John Cho (MPH '25), Mia Diconstanzo (MPH '24), Sara Fitzgerald (MPH '25), and Laure Zhang (SOM '27).

Certificates were awarded to top runners across various categories:

- Male all ages: Connor Mudrick

- Female all ages: Grace Michaud

- Female age 1-17: Sahana Bhandary-Alexander

- Female age 18-24: Nicole Massoumi

- Female age 25-35: Sisi Zheng

- Female age 36-60: EJ Edelman

- Female age 51-99: Carol Dorfman

- Male age 1-17: Ricardo Juarez

- Male age 18-24: Cole King

- Male age 25-35: Rafael Maarek

- Male age 36–60: John Dinkler

- Male age 51–99: Irvin Alcano

The Med Ed Milers received recognition as the team with the highest fundraising total.