Cary Medical Center will hold its 33rd annual health fair on Saturday, Sept. 28, at Caribou High School from noon to 4 p.m.
The event will feature some traditional elements such as health screenings and exhibits, but will also add new features this year, including a bicycle rodeo, child identification program and workshops.
Bill Flagg, director of community relations and development at Cary, said that the theme of the health fair, “Oh the Healthy Places We Will Go,” has added an exciting new element to the event.
“When you do an event for more than three decades, there comes a time when you have to spruce it up a little bit,” said Flagg, who directed the hospital’s first health fair in 1980. “Working with the American Association for Retired Persons and CruiseOne, a local travel agent, we have added a unique feature that I think will get people excited — the chance to win a Bermuda Cruise,” Flagg added.
Flagg explained that visitors to the annual health fair will be provided with a punch card and they will be required to visit a specific number of exhibits or programs, have their card punched at that location, and at the end of their health fair experience turn the card in. One lucky person will have their name drawn and win the cruise.
Cary welcomes AARP as one of the event’s major sponsors this year.
“We are very pleased that AARP has offered to climb on board this event. There are a lot of things going on with seniors today, and not only has the organization agreed to be a part sponsor of the cruise, they have also offered to have an exhibit and to provide a workshop on Social Security and Medicare. Many of our health care visitors are seniors and I know they will appreciate this information,” said Flagg.
Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and vision screenings will once again be available at the health fair. This year a new screening will be held in conjunction with the pulmonary function test called Alpha-1.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic condition that is passed on by parents to their children through their genes and can cause serious liver disease in children and liver and/or lung disease in adults. The disease mimics chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. It is important that individuals be tested for alpha-1 so that they can be treated for the disorder if found to have it.
Recent research suggests that alpha-1 is more common in people of Swedish descent. Given the Swedish community and culture here in northern Maine, the Alpha-1 National Association requested the opportunity to offer a screening at Cary’s health fair. For more information on alpha-1, visit Alpha-1 Association.org.
Over two dozen organizations will feature displays at the health fair. Free flu shots will also be available. For more information, contact Kim Parent in the Public Relations Office at Cary Medical Center at 498-1112.
