EASLEY - Samaritan Health Clinic of Pickens County announced its annual "Walk with the Docs" fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 15, at Five Point Fellowship (formally the Old Colony Theater) in Easley.

Registration for the walk will begin at 9 a.m. and the walk will start at 9:30 a.m.

Participants are encouraged to walk the one-mile route as many times as they choose.

In addition to the walk, a yard sale located in the Five Point Fellowship parking lot, will be held during the hours of 7 - 11:30 a.m. on that day. Anyone wishing to donate items for the sale is encouraged to contact the Samaritan Health Clinic.

Formerly known as Pickens County Free Medical Clinic, the Samaritan Health Clinic was founded in 1991 to provide medical, dental and prescription medications to individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid, Medicare, medical insurance, and who cannot afford private medical care, and community support is vital to the success of this free clinic.

The clinic, located at 303 Dacusville Highway, in Easley, is able to provide diagnostic testing to its patients through services provide by area hospitals of Cannon Memorial Hospital, in Pickens, and Palmetto Health Baptist, in Easley. In addition, Greenville Radiology provides free reading of test.

Local physicians and dentists donate not only their time, but also provide sample medications, medical equipment and various other medical supplies to the clinic.

In 2007, the clinic provided 4,580 free medical exams and dispensed 22,848 prescriptions to their clients. They receive about 60 new patients each month, and offer, in addition to the medical care and prescription medications, referrals to medical specialists, dentists, x-ray and lab services and OBGYN services.

According to Regina Reece, executive director of Samaritan Health Clinic, "The Walk with the Docs originally started not as a fund raising event, but to promote a healthy lifestyle in the community."

She has "been overwhelmed by the response and enthusiasm of the medical community and the residents of Pickens County to this event" over the past several years, Reece said.

"This event is our largest single fund raiser, in terms of number of participants, and I hope and pray for an even larger turnout this year," she said.

The clinic is supported financially by donations from local churches, civic organizations, corporations, and individuals. A major portion of funding is through grants by United Way, Palmetto Health Alliance, Carolina Legacy Trust, Pickens County, Susan G. Komen Foundation and Best Chance Network.

For more information, or to donate items to the yard sale, call 864-855-0853, extension 26.