Everyone is invited to attend The Missouri Dental Association Foundation's Dental Dash, a fundraising 5K run/walk, which will benefit the second annual Missouri Mission of Mercy charity event in the spring known as "MOMOM."

"It's a free dental clinic that we are having May 4 and 5," said Tracey Cooley, a registered dental hygienist at Roupp & Roupp Dentistry in Cape Girardeau. "We are just wanting to get the word out about this fundraising event because this is the first time we've hosted it."

According to Cooley, Dr. Nathan Seyer and Dr. Patrick Ruopp from Roupp & Roupp Dentistry attended Missouri's first Mission of Mercy charity event last year in Springfield, Mo. They saw how many people were helped, and realized that there is an even greater need here in southeast Missouri for such an event.

"The event in the spring will be the second Mission of Mercy charity event to be held in Missouri," said Dr. Janet Roupp of Roupp & Roupp Dentistry, who is also local chair for the Missouri Dental Association.

The clinic is free for people who can't afford to go to the dentist or don't have insurance.

"Anyone can get free treatment, as long as they pass the screenings," Cooley said.

Roupp said that there are a lot of places where people don't have dental care, so they wanted to bring care to the people here in southeast Missouri.

The American Dentist Care Foundation will supply the equipment for MOMOM in Cape Girardeau, according to Ruopp.

"I am excited about this one," Roupp said. "It is a lot of work, because we anticipate seeing 2,200 to 2,400 people who need care within those two days."

Southeast students will also be providing assistance during the event.

"Pre-dental and pre-med students will be involved with the upcoming MOMOM event, and will be participating in medical and dental triage," Roupp said. "Nursing students will also be involved in medical triage."

According to Ruopp, the Southeast football team will load and unload the medical equipment trailers during the event, and students from Southeast's River Campus will entertain people who are waiting in line to be helped. International students will help out by translating conversations between doctors and patients.

"It's also an expensive mission," Roupp said. "Anything that we can get donated is much appreciated. All the dental supplies that we don't get in time we have to purchase."

Southeast has been very generous, according to Roupp.

"They are basically donating the Show Me Center for this event, Roupp said. "We just have to pay utilities and things like that, but they are waiving the rental fee for the three days, which is huge because just to rent the medical equipment is $35,000."

There are 200 dentists, 100 hygienists, 100 assistants and then about 1,000 other volunteers needed to facilitate such a large charity event, according to Roupp.

"There are tons of volunteers still needed," Roupp said.

The Dental Dash 5K run/walk will take place Nov. 3 at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau, and will raise funds for the charity event in May.

Families are welcome, and lunch will also be provided, in addition to balloons, games and other activities for the kids.

Cooley also said there are about 50 registered runners right now, and she expects to see about 10 more register by the day of race.

The Dental Dash race registration will take place the morning of the race for $30, or $25 for early registration. Registration for all Mission of Mercy MOMOM charity volunteers begins Jan. 1.

For more information, visit www.ruoppdds.com, www.caperoadrunners.org or www.modental.org/momom.