campus news and events

Colby-Sawyer Medical Reserve Corps Club Organizes Walk New London Diabetes Project

Colby-Sawyer College's Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Club organized “Walk New London Diabetes Project” on Sunday, Nov. 10. The walkathon, in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, brought students and the greater New London community together to encourage healthy lifestyle initiatives.

Approximately 50 college and community members participated in the three-mile walk sponsored by the MRC Club, Colby-Sawyer's affiliate of the Greater Sullivan County Medical Reserve Corps (GSCMRC). “The main purpose of the event was to combat diabetes and indifference toward unhealthy lifestyle choices,” said club president and Public Health major Kaho Onomichi '13. As part of the event, the MRC also raised funds for the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Student Government Association (SGA) President Nick Ciarlante '14 accompanied the participants on the 1 p.m. walk that began at Colby-Sawyer's Pierce Park and continued along New London's Main Street and adjacent roads. MRC members were stationed along the route to provide water and encouragement and to welcome walkers back to Pierce Park with hand printing and a photo session.

“[The Walk New London Diabetes Project] was our first club-sponsored event,” said club vice president and Healthcare Management major Sukriti Raut '15. “That more than 50 people participated and that we raised $276 for the ADA says a lot about what we can and will accomplish in the future.” Established just this fall, the club's mission is to prepare its student volunteers for public health emergency response and response education, as well as to engage the college and the immediate community in activities that promote and protect health and well-being.

The Stadler family of New London, who participated in the walk in support of their recently diagnosed daughter, Addy, is thankful to the Colby-Sawyer students for bringing this event to the community. “As parents of a daughter recently diagnosed with diabetes, we are eternally grateful to Kaho and her peers for taking the initiative to help spread awareness of and support diabetes,” said Laurie Stadler. “It was a great bridge between the community and the college and we are sure it will be bigger and better next year. We already have it on the calendar!” Addy agreed and added, “I really liked the event and the way the staff cheered on everyone along the walk.”

The MRC is a national organization under the U.S. Surgeon General that works to promote healthy living and prepare for and respond to emergencies; the GSCMRC serves 16 communities in Western New Hampshire. Established in March 2009, the GSCMRC aims to engrain volunteers to strengthen public health, emergency response and stimulate community resiliency.

For more information on Colby-Sawyer's MRC Club, contact Kaho Onomichi '13 at (603) 276-9870 or konomichi.09@my.colby-sawyer.edu. For general inquires about the GSCMRC, contact Regional Coordinator Jessica Rosman at (603) 398-2222 or phn@sullivancountynh.gov.

–Anurup Upadhyay '15

Anurup Upadhyay is a Business major at Colby-Sawyer College and a student writer for College Communications.


Colby-Sawyer College is a comprehensive college that integrates the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation. Founded in 1837, Colby-Sawyer is located in the scenic Lake Sunapee Region of central New Hampshire.

Colby-Sawyer College, 541 Main Street, New London, N.H. 03257 (603) 526-3000