Health fair scheduled for Saturday in Mount Olive
By Steve Herring
Published in News on May 19, 2017 9:57 AM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Take a one-mile walk Saturday morning. Shoot some hoops or play a round of Pickle Ball. Sample healthy foods.
And as long as you are being health conscious, take advantage of free health screenings being offered between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at the sixth annual Mount Olive Community Health Fair sponsored by the Men of Faith, Integrity and Character.
The free event will be held at the Carver Cultural Center, 612 S. Breazeale Ave. The theme is "Be a Witness for Fitness," said Sam Platt, project chairman.
"We are about doing things to better the community, and what better way than to make people aware of how they can live a healthier life?" Men of FIC President Al Southerland said. "It is for all the community. It is for everybody. Everyone has health issues at some time."
Close to 200 people participated last year, and Southerland said they are expecting as least as many again this year.
The one-mile walk will start at 9 a.m. Walkers will automatically be eligible to win one of two new bicycles to be given away as well as for door prizes that include two gift certificates from Bicycle World in Goldsboro.
Participants in the health fair who visit a certain percentage of the booths will be eligible as well.
"Men, we have all been under the impression that men do not like to go to the doctor," Southerland said. "We thought that by having a health fair it might be an easy way to get them out, have a little fun and get their health checked out.
Everything is free.
The Goshen Medical Center truck will be on site for screenings for blood pressure, glucose, body mass index and dental, Platt said. Mount Olive Eye Care will provide vision screenings and Beltone will do hearing screenings, he said. Lavone Hicks will talk about Medicare. Other vendors include Carolina Donor Services, Mt. Olive Pickle Co., Goldsboro Comprehensive Treatment Center, Prevent Blindness and Nspire Network awareness campaign for women, he said.
Hopefully other vendors will join, Platt said.
Mount Olive Parks and Recreation will have a Pickle Ball court set up and will be teaching as well as playing the game in the gym.
A court will be set up for basketball and for other exercise type activities. DJ will provide music in the gym.
Beltone will be in a separate building in order to have a "quiet area" to conduct its hearing screenings, Platt said.
Danny King's Culinary Arts School will provide healthy snack samples.
Participants will receive healthy snacks and other items, like educational pamphlets to read and remind them about healthy habits, Southerland said.
"We want to make sure that they understand this is not a full exam, it is screenings to identify issues," Southerland said. "If there is something wrong with them, it will give the opportunity to go further check it out."