In July of 2008, Debbie Welle-Powell, Vice
President of Payer Strategies & Legislative Affairs at Exempla Healthcare will be attempting to climb Mount Elbrus in Russia. Mount Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe at 18,481 feet and one of the Seven Summits.....the highest peak on each of the seven continents. It's located just in Russia,
though it is only a few miles from the border of Georgia.
Through this effort she is hoping to raise $100,000 for two clinics that provide medical care to uninsured individuals in the Denver Metro Area; Inner City Health Center and Clinica Tepeyac.
The climb
The mountain is in the Caucasus Mountains, which is one of the most rugged mountain ranges in the world. Elbrus may not be that rugged of a mountain, but that is not the case with all the surrounding peaks! The standard route up Elbrus is long and strenuous but not technically difficult. The biggest danger is the weather which can be particularly challenging.
Elbrus is an extinct volcano, having its last eruption around 50 AD, and its crater (300-400 meters in diameter) is now filled with ice and snow. The mountain still retains it's gently sloping,
conical shape. The mountain has two main summits; the Western summit at 5642.7 meters (18,513 feet) elevation and the Eastern summit at 5621 meters (18,442 feet) elevation. The saddle between the two summits is at 5416 meters (17,769 feet) elevation.
The Recipients
Inner City Health Center and Clinica Tepeyac both provide medical care to Denver’s uninsured esidents. The two organizations maintain a strong partnership with one another through their diabetic program and
patient referrals.
If you wish to donate to Debbie’s effort and help the patients of Inner City Health Center and Clinica Tepeyac click here DONATE NOW. All contributions are tax deductible and will provide necessary health care to the uninsured in Colorado.
How the money you donate will be spent
Both clinics have agreed to direct 100% to patient care, nothing to administrative overhead. Your donation will help purchase medical services and preventive dental at a rate of $2500/family/year and
that’s health care for 40 families. Did you know that 72% of all health care illnesses are preventable yet as a society we spend 98% on
intervention? Your monies will be used prudently and wisely.
“I appreciate your support and the support of
your organization for this most worthy cause. Currently there are 772,000 uninsured citizens in Colorado who have no access to health insurance and 75% of those who are uninsured have at least one
full-time worker at home, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. So helping Colorado’s uninsured is worth your involvement and support.
Thank you so much for your contribution to our community.”
Debbie Welle-Powell
Vice President- Payer Strategies & Legislative Affairs, Exempla Healthcare
Advisory Board Member,
Colorado Coalition for Medically Uninsured and Underserved
