Almost 450 members of the Yale/New Haven community woke up early on Sunday, October 6 to participate in the 10th annual ANDA 5K in New Haven’s Edgewood Park, in support of the Yale student-run HAVEN Free Clinic. Anda is a Spanish expression that means "to walk" or "to go," which commonly is used as "Let's go!" or "Come on!"
HAVEN, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, provides comprehensive health care free-of-charge to uninsured adults living in New Haven. Students from across Yale are involved with clinic—ranging from health profession students at the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health, to students from Yale College and the Law School and School of Management. The breadth of engagement at the clinic was reflected in the students, faculty, and staff who ran or walked the 5K, and cheered on its participants.
The event organizers, who had set a fundraising goal of $35,000—about 70% of the clinic’s budget—were thrilled that they raised just over $40,000, through registrations, donations, and corporate sponsorships, including from Yale’s Office of New Haven and State Affairs, Mills & Cahill Law Firm, Pedals Smoothie and Juice Bar, New England Brewing Co., Koffee? Katering, Alvarium Beer Co., and Ascent Climbing. Registrants could sign up as individuals, or could create/join one of over 30 teams, with names such as Keep up the PAce! (a PA team), MedEd Milers, and YCCI Joggernauts.
ANDA 5K organizing team member Christina Cabading (MPH '25) stated, “Providing inclusive, accessible care is the core of what HAVEN stands for. The funds we raise through the 5K go directly towards helping us provide that care.” Cabading continued, “Witnessing more than 400 people come together for this cause was truly moving. Having grown up in a rural part of California, where accessing care was a constant challenge, I joined HAVEN to be part of the solution. It’s deeply fulfilling to work alongside a community that’s just as committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of where they come from, has access to the care they deserve."
The ANDA 5K website highlights the concrete impact of the funds raised through the event, 100% of which go towards patient care:
$25: one complete blood test
$50: one hepatitis B vaccine
$165: a comprehensive patient visit
$439: supports the care of one HAVEN patient for an entire year. (In 2023, HAVEN served over 600 patients.)
Along with Cabading, John Cho (MPH '25), Mia DiCostanzo (MPH '25), Sara Fitzgerald (MPH '25), and Laure Zhang (SOM '27) organized the ANDA 5K.
While everyone was participating to support HAVEN, the organizers handed out certificates to the fastest runners in a variety of categories, including:
- Male, all ages: Connor Mudrick (5.24 minute mile pace!)
- Female, all ages: Grace Michaud (6.13 minute mile pace!)
- Female, age 1-17: Sahana Bhandary-Alexander
- Female, age 18-24: Nicole Massoumi
- Female, age 25-35: Sisi Zheng
- Female, age 36-60: EJ Edelman
- Female, age 51-99: Carol Dorfman
- Male, age 1-17: Ricardo Juarez
- Male, age 18-24: Cole King
- Male, age 25-35: Rafael Maarek
- Male, age 36-60: John Dinkler
- Male, age 51-99: Irvin Alcano
Med Ed Milers earned a certificate for the team with the highest fundraising total.