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Wednesday, September 20, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Beware of running-race scams and bad deals
Student’s
wrongful-
death trial
begins
By Charlie Kanzig
Correspondent
EUGENE (AP) — A law-
yer representing the mother
of a University of Oregon
student who died during a
meningococcal outbreak told
jurors at a civil trial that the
emergency room doctor who
examined the young woman
was too hasty in his decision
to send her home to rest.
The doctor at the hospital
near the Eugene campus diag-
nosed Lauren Jones with a flu-
like illness on Feb. 17, 2015.
Jones, 18, died later that day
after being found unconscious
in her dorm room.
During Wednesday’s open-
ing statements, attorney Dave
Miller said expert witnesses
will testify that Jones should
have been given additional
tests, especially since three
other students had been diag-
nosed with meningococcal
disease in the month before
Jones fell ill. Moreover, he
said the hospital should have
given Jones antibiotics and
kept her in the hospital for a
longer period of time.
“The failure to do these
things fell below the standard
of care for doctors and hos-
pitals, and was negligent,”
Miller told the jury.
Jones’ mother, Dorian
Sanders, seeks $2 million in
the suit against PeaceHealth,
which operates the hospital,
The Register-Guard reported.
Jeffrey Street, a lawyer for
PeaceHealth, told jurors that
the emergency room doctor
shouldn’t be blamed.
The average adult is
There is an ever-growing
number of running-related
events throughout America,
from 5k runs to triathlons and
marathons. Many are long-
standing reputable events.
Others are organized to raise
money for a local cause. A
few are “for-profit” affairs
that have little concern for
the local community. Finally
there are some that are down-
right fraudulent. Runners, as
consumers, need to beware.
I have always preferred
local events raising money
for a cause, but when I have
chosen more formal races I
like to be sure I am getting
the most bang for the buck.
A recent news article
reported that a group posing
as the organizers of one of
those popular “Color Runs”
had collected entry fee money
from dozens of runners for
an event that would never
happen. This apparently hap-
pened in more than one state.
While this is an extreme
example, there are some
guidelines to consider when
looking at your next run:
1. Do some research.
How many years has the
event been put on? Are there
indications that the race gets
return customers? What is
the cost compared to other
similar races? How frequent
and what is provided at the
aid stations? Can you talk to
someone who has done the
race in a previous year?
2. Larger, more estab-
lished races run by non-
profits actually have a Better
Business Bureau profile that
you can check.
3. Even if the race website
looks official, it may be fake
or misleading.
4. If you decide to take
the plunge, pay with a credit
card, which will increase
your chance of a refund if
things go haywire. However,
even the most legitimate
races may not offer refunds,
but will typically say so in
their terms of agreement on
the registration form.
5. If the race is being con-
ducted in support of a charity,
it is wise to check the verac-
ity of the charity, but it might
also make you feel better to
know if the charity uses its
funds appropriately or uses
most of the money to pay its
CEO a six-figure salary.
6. If, despite your best
efforts, the event turns out to
be a bust, contact the Better
Business Bureau in the state
that the event took place and/
or where the organization is
headquartered.
In a related issue, I
reflect back on the sum-
mer and compare two races
that my daughter Erin ran
in Central Oregon while she
stayed with us. The first, the
Hoodoo Challenge, spon-
sored by our local Kiwanis
club, did everything right.
For a reasonable price, she
received a T-shirt, plenty of
aid along the half-marathon
course, friendly volunteers,
and a veritable feast at the
finish. In addition, she took
home a very nice water bot-
tle as a prize from the post-
race drawing.
In contrast, she ran a
marathon outside of Bend
in August. Volunteers were
few and far between, aid was
Spartan, and after running
26.2 miles, the only fare left
at the finish was an under-
cooked bean dish, bananas,
lukewarm water, and beer.
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PHOTO BY CHARLIE KANZIG
The Hoodoo Challenge is an example of a running event run well and for
the right reasons.
There was no place to sit in
the shade, and no friendly
volunteers checking on how
finishers were doing. Awards
were announced long before
most runners finished. It was
pretty tough to imagine why
the race cost $65.
In looking over all the
races that I have run, volun-
teered for, and directed, there
are actually very few that did
not deliver good service.
However, as more and more
races spring up, it is wise to
be a smart shopper.
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Deschutes
County
Fair & Rodeo
Queen 2018
Tryouts
★ Are you interested in being an ambassador
for Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo?
★ Can you talk to and work with people of all ages?
★ Can you ride a horse?
★ Will you be 17 years old by January 1, 2018
and not yet 21 years old by July 25, 2018?
★ Do you live in Deschutes, Crook, or Jeff erson county?
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Juniper Arena & North Sister Building
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For more information contact Carol Shull Zimmerman,
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