The Great Cape Escape hopes to boost support for Open Door Clinic in second year

Men, women and children in capes and superhero-themed shirts will race down Haggard Avenue on Sept. 24 in the the second Great Cape Escape — a fun run, 5K and 10K race hosted by the Elon University Physician Assistant Studies program. 

All proceeds from the race are donated to the Open Door Clinic of Alamance County, a local free clinic that provides health care to more than 600 patients without insurance in Alamance County every year. Students in Elon’s graduate and undergraduate programs volunteer at the clinic year-round, and the Elon PA Student Society (EPASS) has made the Open Door Clinic its philanthropic partner.

After raising more than $11,000 from the inaugural race last year, the race coordinators hope to exceed $13,000 this year –– a goal that Cindy Bennett, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, believes is possible.

“We are on track to hit that goal and go beyond it,” said Bennett. The race expects to attracted more sponsors and expects more than 350 participants this year, an increase of more than 100. First-year graduate student and race director Anna Parr worked with Bennett to coordinate the race. 

The increase in participation and support follows efforts to boost the grow this year. Coordinators learned from last year, and have improved the course, logistics, and opportunities to donate to the Open Door Clinic. “We want substantial money to give to the clinic,” Bennett said. 

​EPASS works with the clinic to place students there in the first year of studies, where they gain valuable clinical experience.

“Open Door Clinic is a wonderful and meaningful resource to Alamance County,” said Graham Brown, EPASS president and a graduate student at Elon. “I’ve seen firsthand the majorly positive impact that the clinic provides to our community.”

The executive director of Open Door Clinic, Tracy Salisbury, added that the clinic depends on donations from the community to serve its patients. This is the first year the clinic has offered dental services to the uninsured in Alamance County.

​The Great Cape Escape features superhero costumes, a fun run full of zombies and challenges for children under nine years old, along with a costume contest with prizes donated from sponsors like The Oak House, Zenitry and Red Bowl. 

The race begins at 9am on Sept. 24. Participants can sign up for the 5K or 10K race, or the fun run at www.runtheGCE.com. Online sign-ups will continue up until the time of the race, and participants can sign up in person the day before. The race course starts at the Gerald Francis Center at 762 East Haggard Ave., and will take participants across Elon’s campus.