Sale benefits hospital in
Ethiopian town
By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer
Despite being on sabbatical in
Ethiopia, Ryan Schmidt’s actions continue to inspire those living in the
Wood River Valley. Schmidt, a back-to-back winner of the Baldy Hill
Climb, is now climbing higher hills as a resident radiologist, advisor
and teacher in a hospital in Gimbie, Ethiopia.
Schmidt’s year of volunteerism
with the Adventist Health International has inspired colleagues at St.
Luke’s Wood River Medical Center to organize a benefit yard and bake
sale. The sale is Friday, May 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 15,
from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the north parking lot of the hospital. The
proceeds from the sale will raise money for X-ray equipment needed for
the Ethiopian facility.
Organizer Hazel Thorne said, "Ryan
sends e-mails every week to update us on his progress. It is clear (from
the e-mails) there is a tremendous need in Third World countries."
Fellow coworkers decided they
could help the needs of Schmidt’s facility best, by raising money to buy
X-ray equipment that will cost $12,000. All of the proceeds from the
yard and bake sale will go towards the equipment.