CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A hospital has opened in Cedar Rapids, but it’s not a place you want to be sick.

Saturday held the 2nd Annual Haunted Hospital, a fundraiser for Respiratory Therapy students at Kirkwood Community College.

The Halloween-inspired event also took place during Respiratory Care Week.

“It’s like a week-long celebration of our profession. So sometimes our profession is kind of misunderstood because we get confused with other professions,” said Respiratory Therapy Program Director Liliana Hoffnagle.

“We are the lung specialists of the hospital. We work really closely with pulmonologists and cardiologists,” said Macy Espe, a first-year student in the program. “We work in different departments. Intensive care, NICU, Med-surg, you name it. We are down there.”

The money raised at the event helps students attend the conference, which is part of the program’s second year.

Espe said these funds are necessary.

“It’s not cheap. It’s not cheap to go to school, and it’s not cheap to go to these conferences, but it’s a great way for us to get some more education and get more hands-on experience with the community. That’s why we decided to host this to raise some money,” Espe said.

Last year the fundraiser raised nearly $500. This year the students were hoping to double that.

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