Medical Students Host “Walk for Wheels-a-Thon” Fundraiser for Transportation Insecurity in Miami-Dade

Contributing Writer/ Emma Baker 

On Saturday, March 13, Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM) held its annual fundraiser to raise awareness and support for Miami-Dade NeighborhoodHELP households. The program is offered by medical students eager to improve the quality of life for those living in underserved communities. 

If the pandemic has taught us any lessons, it is that access to healthcare is fundamental. While it is clear quality health insurance and affordability is important for access, individuals often take for granted the physical transportation necessary to meet with health care providers, pick up prescriptions, and follow medical recommendations for a safe and healthy lifestyle. 

The Green Family Foundation Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program (NeighborhoodHELP) is a “service-oriented platform” run by FIU’s Medical Students. The group is designed with the initiative to provide primary care, preventive medicine, behavioral medicine, chronic condition management, and more within NHELP households. 

Allison Chin, the leader of the 2021 NeighborhoodHELP Fundraiser team, describes the primary values of the program. 

“[The organization] highlights the importance of interprofessional patient-centered care within the cultural context of a melting pot…”, she said. Students are able to serve “underserved communities while remaining socially accountable.”

Chin collaborated with various major corporations, such as the NeighborhoodHELP Outreach Team, FIU Rotaract, the Rotary Club of Miami, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), and the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) in order to “establish and execute the protocol for this fundraiser.” 

The NHELP program allows medical students of HWCOM to determine challenging issues in underserved communities throughout South Florida. 

This year’s fundraising theme is transportation, which refers to the thousands of individuals in Miami-Dade county that are unequipped to access rides to essential locations. 

Last year’s fundraising theme, as a result of the pandemic, was food insecurity. The fundraising team achieved their goal for the cause by collaborating with  FIU Rotaract and Project Treehouse to address this issue. The team continued their efforts by funding routine food delivery services to families involved in the NHELP program.

Chin defines transportation insecurity as an extremely inhibiting issue. Although most families are remaining home during the pandemic, some are struggling to find their way to essential services, such as doctors appointments and food shopping.

“Transportation insecurity refers to the inability to afford a reliable means of transportation to carry out essential tasks of daily living including grocery shopping, medication pick-ups, and transport to work, among other scenarios,” Chin said. “It is the concept of feeling unsure about whether or not you [and your family] can safely return home.” 

NeighborhoodHELP’s mission is to improve accessibility to public transportation while, eventually, addressing health disparities in underserved neighborhoods and communities in Miami-Dade.

According to the event site, “transportation is part of the Social Determinants of Health schema…”, and makes it increasingly difficult for individuals to attend vital doctor’s appointments, shop, and maintain their overall health and wellness. 

“This [event]  would address the barrier to healthcare many of our families endure and contribute to HWCOM’s efforts to close the gap in health disparities.” Chin explains. 

Aligning with the safety protocol mandated through FIU, NeighborhoodHELP held its virtual event on Saturday, March 13th, through their official Instagram page, allowing participants to submit their own videos of them joining in the walk. The fundraiser offered various prizes and perks, including discounts on beauty products and a gift card for Nike. 

To enhance the fun, event organizers held a raffle where individuals had the opportunity to win FIU merchandise, an array of artistic prints, and a varying collection of gift cards. 

Participants kicked off the event with an early rise, heading outside to begin their walk. Using the hashtag ‘#helpfundraiser,’ supporters of the ‘Walk for Wheels-a-Thon’ posted their contributions on social media, creating an inspiring video compilation and photo album of fiery locals walking for a great cause. 

Students, parents, friends, and even dogs can be seen participating in the walk on the @nhelpfundraiser Instagram page under ‘story highlights’.

The fundraiser proved yet another success, raising over $3000 to provide an estimated 500 prepaid bus passes to the families involved in the program. Aside from monetary value, the event also “increased awareness of the NeighborhoodHELP program and the issue of transportation insecurity as a whole,” as Chin explains.

The organization hopes to increase the probability of a safer and healthier lifestyle for those involved while making public transportation obtainable for those who need it. For those who were unable to attend the “Walk for Wheels-a-Thon” fundraiser on Saturday, individuals can still show their support for the NeighborhoodHELP program by becoming a volunteer. Follow @fiumedicine on Instagram to stay up-to-date on upcoming fundraisers and events.