Robin Transo figured she had to raise at least $14,000 to open a free medical clinic in Boscobel, though she was hoping for $30,000 to cover prescription drugs, lab tests and other expenses.

By the time the clinic opened last month, $34,000 in donations had come in.

"I 'm so honored that so many people supported this idea, " said Transo, who organized the InHealth Community Wellness Clinic. "We did something in six months that usually takes a year to a year and a half to do. "

Transo said earlier this year that she had heard of many people in the Boscobel area who needed doctor visits but couldn 't afford them.

Many of the people have jobs but don 't have enough money to pay the premiums for the health insurance offered by their employers, she said. The need grew after flooding in August brought additional expenses, she said.

Transo had planned to open the clinic by December. After the floods, she moved the goal to October.

She held six fundraising events in six weeks. People mailed in checks ranging from $5 to $500. A man from Viola, who wants to remain anonymous, walked in one day and wrote a check for $12,000.

With exam tables, stethoscopes, blood-pressure cuffs and other equipment donated by area doctors, the clinic has opened in the walk-out basement floor of a hearing clinic owned by Transo and her husband, an audiologist.

Transo figured the free clinic would see only one or two patients initially before word about it spread. But seven patients showed up at the first session, and nine came to the second one, she said.

The clinic is scheduled to be open every other week on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings. Transo hopes to add dental services next year. There is talk of opening satellite clinics in other towns, including Lancaster and Prairie du Chien. For information about the clinic, call 608-375-4328 or 375-4324.

Free clinics also have opened within the past year in Dodgeville and Richland Center.

To contact the Community Connections Free Clinic in Dodgeville, call 608-930-2232 or visit www.communityconnectionsfreeclinic.org.

For the Richland Community Free Clinic, call 608-647-6161, ext. 4135.

-- David Wahlberg

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