...for the MITHS program. MITHS is an acronym for Minority Introduction to the Health Sciences, a program sponsored by Loma Linda University in California. Although Loma Linda is covering the room, board, meals, program activities, she needs funds to travel, spending money and incidentals.

This is a three-week summer program (June 25 to July 13) designed to introduce black Adventist high-school students to careers in the health sciences. She has talked about going into medicine - specifically biomedical research - for years and this program is ideal in giving her some real-time exposure. This is actually tailored made for her - anyone that knows Cai knows that she will not back down from a challenge and is very much an "outside the box kind of thinker." She has seen a lot of sickness and death up close in our family - but the one that seems to have had the most impact is the number of family members that have died from Alzheimers' disease. She is bullheaded enough to be the one to figure this thing out...

Loma Linda handpicked Cai from the many applications I am sure they received to attend this challenging program. She will have an opportunity to explore a variety of topics ranging from medicine, dentistry, nursing, physical therapy, pharmacy, behavioral health, allied health, public health and healthcare administration. She'll have a little fun too; she will also enjoy the richness of Southern California by participating in group outings around the area. The MITHS experience strives to prepare students for their senior year of high school and expose them on what to expect in college through an interactive experience.

Cai is an athlete (soccer, tumbling, tennis and trapeze) and a creative (painter - water color and acryllic, loves to draw/sketch, and recently has gotten into digital art - all self-taught by the way!) She's a great friend, a bit of a comedian and has a knack for connecting with people.

She's excited! The funds will be used for a combination of things - flight to and from, spending money for the field trips off campus and yep, she has to do her laundry too. She will have a "mini college student experience" and I'm here for it. We just need a little help!

Thank you so much for whatever you can do...

"We have a powerful potential in our youth, and we must have the courage to change old ideas and practices so that we may direct their power toward good ends." -Mary McLeod Bethune