Friday, August 15, 2008 8:58 PM CDT
'Wheels for Wellness' poker run to benefit dental program
From Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center
Madonna Anstrom of Bethany is thankful her three children have healthy smiles again.
When Anstrom’s husband lost his job, as well as his insurance, after 25 years of employment, proper dental care was among the first things to go. The family struggled just to make ends meet.
After more than three years without care, Anstrom learned about the Women and Children’s First Dental Program, a collaborative community effort, from a brochure she received at the doctor’s office.
The program has been a godsend for the family allowing her children to have numerous cavities filled, as well as getting sealants to prevent future ones. It has also allowed her to have done some much-needed dental work.
Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center is trying to raise additional funds to expand this program with its first-ever “Wheels for Wellness” poker run on Aug. 23.
“The need keeps growing,” Dental Program coordinator Monica Dunn, registered dental hygienist, said.
Dunn explained that families without resources often have trouble accessing dental care.
“Through this program, we’ve treated kids will all sorts of teeth and gum problems. Not only are the kids in physical pain, but they suffer from low self-esteem too. Kids are more likely to achieve in school when they’re not suffering.”
Through this collaborative program involving volunteer dentists, area public health departments, the Regional Office of Education and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System, children and mothers on Medicaid, AllKids and WIC can receive a dental exam and X-rays and preventive and restorative services, if needed. Services are received at individual dental offices throughout the area.
Funds raised during the poker run will help other families like the Anstroms receive dental care. Over the last seven years, Women and Children First Dental has conducted about 12,000 oral health screenings, and currently helps almost 800 people.
Last year alone, the program’s dentists performed more than 2,000 procedures at no cost to their patients.
Anyone on wheels, from bikes to cars, is encouraged to join Wheels for Wellness, which starts from the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center parking lot at 10 a.m. Aug. 23.
Participants will collect five cards from their choice of seven SBLHC clinics, while enjoying other designated points of interest along one of two routes.
The 10 best poker hands will each receive a prize. The ride will take approximately three to four hours.
Raffle tickets also can be purchased for a drawing for a seven-night trip to Fort Myers Beach, Fla., which includes a $1,000 travel voucher. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased for two for $10 through the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundation.
Net proceeds will also benefit other children’s program at the health center, such as “I Sing the Body Electric,” a program that promotes healthy lifestyle choices for students and reduces risky behaviors.
The cost to participate is $10 per vehicle and $40 for each hand/tally card and includes lunch. A rain date has been set for Sept. 13.
For more information, call the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundation at 258- or 348-2511 or go to www.sarahbush.org for details, route maps and pre-registration forms.
For more information about the Women and Children’s First Dental program, call 888-511-2673.
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