Newswise — Volunteers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) are joining forces with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) to find the cause and cure of brain tumors—the leading cause of cancer death among children. Nearly 30 USU faculty and staff members will take part in the PBTF's Ride for Kids® program on Sept. 21 at the Mall in Columbia, Md. With the support of local motorcyclists, the program seeks to raise awareness and funds for medical research and family support programs.
The event begins with a motorcycle ride through the scenic countryside and culminates in a celebration honoring young brain tumor survivors.
"The Ride for Kids is a grass roots experience and very personal," said USU participant, CDR Rene Hernandez, Ph.D., USN, assistant professor in the Department of Military and Emergency Medicine. "I meet the children and families that have been helped by the money raised each and every year, and happily I've seen some of the young children grow up over the past 10 years that I've been involved with. Sometimes there isn't a happy ending, but I know that my participation and the money I bring in can help create more happy endings."
The Uniformed Services University is located on the grounds of Bethesda's National Naval Medical Center and across from the National Institutes of Health. It is the nation's federal school of medicine and graduate school of nursing. The university educates health care professionals dedicated to career service in the Department of Defense and the U.S. Public Health Service. Students are active-duty uniformed officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Public Health Service who are being educated to deal with wartime casualties, national disasters, emerging infectious diseases, and other public health emergencies. Of the university's more than 4,200 physician alumni, the vast majority serve on active duty and are supporting operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, offering their leadership and expertise.
For more information about Ride for Kids®, visit http://www.pbtfus.org/rideforkids/.
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