Marshall’s University’s MEDLIFE chapter is improving the life of a single mother and her son, who both live in extreme poverty in Lima, Peru, through funds raised in MU MEDLIFE’s annual spring 5k starting at 9 a.m. Saturday on the plaza of the Memorial Student Center.

Despite working all of her life, the mother Soledad, has had to raise her son in less than habitable conditions, prompting the national MEDLIFE organization to launch the “A House for Soledad” project to raise funds towards building Soledad and her son a new home.

Founder and former co-president Ana Ramirez said MU MEDLIFE chose to dedicate their annual spring 5k to the national project after researching and watching a video about Soledad’s story.

“Something moved all of us in watching Soledad’s story,” Ramirez said. “I think we were all shaken by how much she works to provide for her son but is still victim to a third-world country poverty.”

Ramirez said MU MEDLIFE’s goal for the 5k is to not only raise money for the project, but to also unite the Marshall community in showing support for an impactful cause, whether or not some participants consider themselves avid “runners.”

“We applaud people who want to compete and improve running times, but we mainly just want our community to come out and show this global organization the heart of Huntington, West Virginia,” Ramirez said.

Those who wish to participate can sign up the day of the race or on TriStateRace.com by entering the RaceID 8514.

There will also be a children’s event at the race.

Ramirez said MU MEDLIFE welcomes volunteers and anyone else who is interested in getting involved with the organization on campus.

MU MEDLIFE meets at 7 p.m. every other Wednesday in Science Building room 374.

Rebecca Turnbull can be contacted at [email protected].