5K and exhibit spotlight effects of disaster | Community Spirit

Medical Teams International will host a 5k run/walk in tandem with the opening of the REAL LIFE exhibit on Saturday, Sept. 10 in Redmond.

The BIG Run and the grand opening of the REAL.LIFE. Exhibit, sponsored by The Hasselbeck Family, will take place at the Medical Teams International Mike and Kathy Holmgren Center, located at 9680 153rd Ave. NE in Redmond.

The BIG RUN fun run/walk starts at 9:00 a.m. and is designed to raise money for victims of the 2010 Haitian Earthquake. Directly following the start of The BIG Run is the grand opening of the REAL LIFE. Exhibit, which provides visitors with a walk-through, multi-sensory experience that enables people to understand what real life is like for children affected by disaster, conflict and poverty. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m.

The BIG Run was created to honor the memory of Matthew Bouthillier, an emergency-room nurse at Swedish Medical Center in Issaquah, who unexpectedly died in Port-au-Prince, Haiti while volunteering as part of a medical disaster relief team. Matt’s wife Melissa established The BIG Run to honor her husband and his work and to raise money to support the on-going effort of Medical Teams International in Haiti.

“We are thrilled to host The BIG Run in Matt’s honor, and to also share this brand new exhibit with the community on this exciting, event-filled day,” said Jim Mhoon, Medical Teams International Executive Director. “The REAL. LIFE. Exhibit will spark a flame of compassion, empathy, and action in the hearts of people concerned with global health and wellbeing.”