Teche Health 5K raises breast cancer awareness

FRANKLIN -- Teche Health will hold its 25th Adeline Guienze 5K run or walk for breast cancer awareness at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, starting at the St Mary Parish Courthouse Square on Main Street.
Proceeds from this event support the Women’s Health Program at Teche Health, formerly known as Teche Action Clinic. Funds generated will pay for mammogram screenings for women who fall within specific income guidelines and to be used for the program’s breast cancer awareness outreach and education initiatives.
Late registration begins at 7 a.m., the day of the event. An entry form can be obtained from the Teche Health
Facebook page at this address: facebook.com/techeactionclinic, or by calling Florence Beverly, Teche marketing supervisor, at 337-828-2550 ext 2188 or 337-940-3936.
Beverly said the event always kicks off the city of Franklin’s Main Street Merchant Harvest Moon Festival, which hosts a bevy of activities later in the day.
“We encourage anyone, including mothers pushing their babies in their strollers, to join us for this event,” she said. “The race course will bring you through the historic and downtown districts of Franklin,” she said.
All entry fees are non-refundable.
Dr. Gary Wiltz, CEO of Teche, said Guienze was an incredible employee of the organization who lost her life way too soon.
“We celebrate her memory to hopefully avoid that grief for other families,” he said.
“I strongly encourage women to get their mammograms at age 40 and if there is a family history of breast cancer, to get it sooner, like at age 35 or perhaps younger.”
In addition, Wiltz suggests that women to continue to practice self breast examinations and to practice a healthy breast diet by avoiding caffeine in coffee, tea and by avoiding chocolate.
He also suggests taking vitamin E as it is a good supplement for ladies with fibrocystic breast disease.
“The best prevention is early detection. That’s not a cliche. It works,” he said.
Beverly said a $150 cash award will be presented to the first man and the first woman to cross the finish line.
Other awards include first-, second- and third-place medals that will be awarded to the top male and female runners and walkers, by the official race clock.
The race/walk fee is $30 by Oct. 16, or $35 on race day. There is also a $20 senior citizen fee for those who are 70 or older.
Also, Beverly said there is a $5 per student entry fee for high school teams. Students must wear their school shirt in order to participate. There is no race t-shirt for this price.
Teche Health, Teche Action Clinic, opened its doors in Franklin in the summer of 1974, as Louisiana’s first community health center.
Matthew Guienze, the son of Adeline Guienze, said its beautiful to see the event celebrating his mother’s memory.
“Words can’t explain it. That’s all I have to say,” he said.