LOUISBURG, N.C. — Rising health care costs could be doing much more than just keeping people from the doctor. The Institutes of Health reports, an estimated 18,000 uninsured people die each year.

A local group of volunteers is working hard to change that.

"According to the state statistics, we have about 8,000 people in Franklin County who are uninsured," said Dr. Phil Stover of Franklin County Volunteers in Medicine.

The group is trying to open a free health clinic in Louisburg.

Louisburg College has offered a building as a temporary site for the clinic. The town has not yet signed off on the permit.

The group will get a financial boost this weekend. The program is one of three charities that will benefit from Sunday's Race of Grace in downtown Raleigh.