By Taylor Robinson

The UK Physician Assistant program will be hosting the second annual Chick-fil-A Physician Assistant Day 5K/1-Mile Fun Walk/Cornhole Tournament Saturday at UK Coldstream Park.

The events are to promote awareness for the program and to raise money for the Refuge Medical Clinic and the Joseph Hamburg Student Society.

Last year’s race drew 100 entries, and this year’s event is expected to be more successful.

“The first time an event is held, it is always hard to get a lot of participation,” said Stephanie Cruse, the event’s coordinator and member of UK’s physician assistant class of 2011.  “Taking on the responsibility of planning and hosting an event while being a full-time physician assistant student is a great(er) task.”

A portion of the funds raised by the race’s registration fees will be donated to the Refuge Medical Clinic, a non-profit organization that provides medical and dental services to uninsured individuals in Jessamine and Fayette County.

The Joseph Hamburg Student Society, the official UK Physician’s Assistant students, will also receive some of the proceeds from Saturday’s event.  The society will use the money to fund activities such as mission trips for those involved students.

A physician assistant is supervised by a licensed physician and is authorized to perform tasks such as physical examinations, counseling patients, administering emergency care and prescribing medication. This career can also be used as a stepping stone to administrative positions in the health care system.

Participants will receive an event T-shirt and water bottle, and lunch will be provided by the main sponsor of the event, Chick-fil-A.

The event will be held on Saturday at UK’s Coldstream Park on Newtown Pike.  Registration is from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., and the events will begin at 8:45 a.m., starting with the 1-Mile Fun Walk.

The top male and female finishers in the 5K will be awarded free Chick-fil-A for a year, and the winning cornhole team’s members will each receive a $100 bundle, courtesy of the restaurant. Raffle tickets are on sale for $1, featuring prizes donated by more than 60 sponsors of the event.