International Health Ministry on Front-Lines of Zika Virus to Host Holy Smoke 5K on Labor Day in Marietta

MARIETTA - Predisan Health Ministries, an international health ministry that provides medical care to the people of Honduras, the second poorest country in the western hemisphere, will host a Holy Smoke 5K on Labor Day at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta.

The 5K kicks off at 9 a.m. at the church at 955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, Ga. 30068. Registration is $25 and increases to $30 on Aug. 29, $35 on race day. To register, go to: http://predisan.org/?p=2510.

There will be a classic car show, silent auction, BBQ and music festival after the race. The Black and Gold parachute team from Ft. Benning will perform. A limited number of tickets to a BBQ will also be available.

Predisan, founded by the late Dr. Robert Clark and his wife Doris, of Tucker, Ga., started the medical mission initiative to serve God and bring healing to the poor Central American nation. The Zika virus, which affects pregnant women and causes birth defects, has been quite prevalent there this year.

Predisan operates 25 healthcare facilities in the nation of 8 million people. In addition to 22 clinics that provid primary care services, Predisan offers a birthing center, a regional referral center for inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and a specialty and surgical center, along with a chapel in its Good Samaritan Medical Center.

Predisan’s staff and volunteers work to improve the infant mortality rate by offering prenatal care, urgent care, nutrition, ophthalmology, oby-gyn services and general surgery. Volunteers from the United States visit Predisan to offer help, including teams of anesthesiologists, nurses, pharmacists and doctors.

For more information contact: Karen Rhodes 770-955-1512 or krhodes@predisan.org.