Veterans health care system sees changes

The Department of Veterans Affairs will make changes to enhance the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System at its two medical centers, Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth and Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka.

The Acute Psychiatry Program will consolidate in Topeka, with Leavenworth retaining four inpatient beds. The program will increase overall by 64 beds. Outpatient programs will not change.

The Substance Abuse Treatment Teams program will be renamed to Addictions Treatment Program and offer help for substance abuse as well as other addictions. The program also will expand intensive outpatient capacity in Leavenworth and offer more individualized treatment options at both sites.

The Nursing Home Care Unit will consolidate in Building 4 in Topeka so Building 6 can be closed. Leavenworth also will add 38 beds to this unit.

Preparations under way for Lawrence MS walk

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s MS Walk will be in Lawrence on April 26 at Burcham Park. The three- or six-mile walk begins at 9 a.m. and provides participants with snacks along the way.

The walk is one of the primary ways the society raises funds for those who have MS. More than 1,000 people in eastern Kansas suffer from the disease, and 60 cents of every dollar from this walk stays in the region.

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by random, unpredictable attacks on the central nervous system. Symptoms include imbalance, numbness, paralysis and blindness.

To register for the walk, call the society at 272-5292 or (800) 745-7148, or go to www.msmidamerica.org.

Trail ride raises money to help fight leukemia

Horse riders are invited to participate in the Kansas Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s 18th annual KZSN Charity Trail Ride.

The ride is scheduled to take place April 11-13 near Medicine Lodge.

The Trail Ride campsite opens at 5 p.m. April 11. The ride begins the following morning with an outdoor dance that evening. Riders will finish the trail Sunday and break camp at 1 p.m.

The minimum pledge to participate is $30 for an individual or $50 for a family of four.

Prizes for riders collecting pledges include a three-horse Gooseneck trailer from Hillsboro Industries, a handmade pleasure saddle by JW Saddlery, boots from Dandales and camping equipment from Coleman Co.

To register for the event, call the Kansas chapter of the society at (316) 687-2222.