Staff Writer
Cary Medical Center initiated a new program Tuesday to promote health and wellness throughout the year in nearly a dozen Aroostook County towns.
Contributed photo
Officials of Key Bank presented a $10,000 check to Cary medical Center staff for a new health education program announced on Tuesday, From left are Jim Davis, CEO of Pines Health Services; Cara Miller, Healthy You educator, Cheri Doak of Key Bank, Steve Gagnon, senior vice president of Key Bank, Kris Doody, Cary’s CEO, Kim Jones, Healthy You coordinator, Vicki Flannery, Healthy You education coordator and Peter Ashey, chairman of the CMC board.
“Healthy You” was developed after a series of focus groups was held through the region asking people what they wanted in health information.
The focus groups, conducted over the last few years, were sponsored by a $15,000 grant from Key Bank. On Tuesday, the financial institution presented CMC officials with an additional $10,000 to run the new health education program.
“We’ve always been strong advocates for health care,” said Steve Gagnon, senior vice president of Key Bank during a presentation at Cary Medical Center. “We wanted to pool resources and get involved in a major program … to promote wellness.”
The targeted communities included in the program are Washburn, Limestone, Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Van Buren and Presque Isle. The first program will begin next month in Washburn. Other programs will also be held in Caswell, New Sweden, Stockholm and Woodland, according to Kim Jones, CMC’s program manager.
The various programs, which range from health screenings to financial planning, will be offered for two months each year in the selected communities. However, county residents may participate at any time regardless of location, according to program officials. Most activities will be offered at no charge.
“‘Healthy You’” will address these issues through a unique combination of programming that covers traditional health and modern wellness,” said Kris Doody, CMC’s chief executive officer. “Healthy You is a model that will demonstrate the tremendous power and impact a collaborative, locally-driving program can have on an entire community. We fully anticipate that we will be able to help thousands of county residents live full of life.”
Jones pointed to the diverse types of activities that will be offered, such as workshops, lectures, contests and socialization. Partnerships also have been formed with various area agencies and civic group to help promote the program, Jones said.
Several incentives for participation have been included in the program, include the chance to win a trip for two and other prizes.
For more information on the program, individuals may contact Jones at CMC at 498-1361. The program’s Web address is www.CaryMedicalCenter.org/HealthyYou.
