Medical and nursing students raising money for the Học Mãi Foundation

Final year medical students Richard Blennerhassett, Edwin Ho, James Lithgow and Matt Silsby, and final year nursing student Elliott Ventress, will be running the Blackmores Sydney Marathon to raise money for the Học Mãi Foundation, the Australia Vietnam Medical Foundation of the University of Sydney. The five students will run the 42km race on 18 September 2011.

The Học Mãi Foundation facilitates an exchange program for doctors, allied health staff and students from Australia and Vietnam in order to improve health education and outcomes. These students have spent 4-8 weeks studying in Vietnamese hospitals, learning about the medical and social issues that face the people of Vietnam, and gaining an appreciation for the Vietnamese culture.

“It was a valuable experience to be part of the Học Mãi placement as a medical student”, said Edwin, who went to Viet Duc Surgical Hospital in Hanoi. “We were warmly welcomed and learnt a great deal from the Vietnamese doctors. We left with a greater understanding of healthcare in the developing world and of the unique Vietnamese culture.

“We are pleased to be running the marathon in support of Học Mãi so that the Foundation can continue its important work. Forty-two kilometres is a gruelling challenge but we know that all those blisters will be worth it in the end.”

Learn more about the Học Mãi Foundation

Support their marathon efforts

Edwin Ho