Weekend Spotlight: Go on Giant Steps Run for Pediatric Dental Fund

A 5K Giant Steps run/walk to benefit the Pediatric Dental Fund of the Hamptons will take place on Sunday morning at the Amagansett Fire Department.

This will be the seventh installment of the annual run for the non-profit organization, which provides affordable preventative and emergency dental care to underprivileged East End children. The fund seeks to reimburse operating costs for private practitioners who volunteer to provide care to the children, according to organizer Dr. Ancy Verdier, a periodontist in Wainscott.

The Pediatric Dental Fund of the Hamptons was founded in 1995 by Dr. Gail Schoenfeld.

"I see it with adults that come in, they didn't have the care as a child," Verdier, who lives in Sag Harbor, said. "If we can do something not only about prevention but taking care of the small things, like cavities and teaching the kids how to brush and floss, it will improve overall oral health in the future."

Verdier said there is a false assumption in the Hamptons that everyone can afford dental care, but in reality there is a noticeable part of the population that can go without treatment.

"Now it's about wellness and health, a lot of times oral health gets overlooked," he said, adding there is a connection between the two. Each year the race donates all proceeds to the fund, which operates largely from private local business donations, Verdier said.

The fund tries to raise between $5,000 and $10,000 Sunday, which represents the major part of annual fund-raising events, said Sophie French, a member of the Board of Directors who has been involved with the Pediatric Dental Fund for four years. Another source of revenue includes grants, she said.

The race usually draws about 100 runners and the end of the race there is a raffle and awards ceremony for first and second place, French said. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the race starts at 9. The race costs $25 on the day of the race, seniors $15 and children $10.