CVS Classic funds help to heal the sick

BARRINGTON, R.I. (WPRI) - In these tough economic times, the money raised by the CVS Caremark Charity Classic is more important than ever. One of the local charities that's helped by that money is the Rhode Island Free Clinic.

Scott Kettelle can walk into the Free Clinic in good health, but when he first came through the doors last year, it was a much different story.

"Before this I was walking around with all these problems and I wasn't aware of it," said Scott. "I could've dropped dead."

One of those problems was a serious case of diabetes.

"I really needed some professional help, but I couldn't afford it," he said. "And I came here and they have so many specialists. And I got all the help that I needed."

• Rhode Island Free Clinic

The Clinic is a small group of doctors and hundreds of volunteers who provide primary care for over 2,000 people like Scott every year, completely free of charge.

"This is a clinic that changes people's lives," said Free Clinic CEO Marie Ghazal. "It was established for the working poor in our state to help them. That's really what the free clinic is about."

The clinic is funded entirely by donations.

"The CVS Charity Classic is so important to the clinic for a number of reasons," said Ghazal. "We have to raise every single penny. We have a top-notch facility. We have a pharmacy, we have lab facilities, we have an ophthalmology clinic, we have medical exam rooms that all of our doctors work out of. It's phenomenal what this clinic can do with so little."

There are also dozens of volunteers like Dr. Herbert Rakatansky, who are vital in providing much-needed care for patients facing hard times.

"The people that we see here could be you or me," said Dr. Rakatansky. "Or anybody that loses a job and is living on marginal income."

Kettelle knows first-hand how important the Free Clinic is to thousands of Rhode Islanders.

"I don't know how society can operate without places like this," Scott said. "I want to see this place be successful and help other people get to where I am, and feel the way I feel."

All the money donated to the Free Clinic from this year's CVS Caremark Charity Classic will go directly towards getting more people quality healthcare.

Clinic officials are stretching every penny as far as possible. Last year, they turned a $1.2 million budget into over $3 million worth of treatment for patients.