Women 4 Wellness packs the house
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PABLO — Although the Women 4 Wellness Health Fair was slated to begin at 10 a.m. on May 12, volunteers opened an hour early to register a line of eager women.
Event organizers asked women attending the fair to “help us help others” by donating a pair of socks of any size, bath towels, kitchen utensils or cash for Safe Harbor, a shelter for battered women and children.
In its third year, the Women 4 Wellness Health Fair packed the upstairs and downstairs of the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center with 125 exhibitors, up from 88 last year, 25 free screenings, 70 health topics and 15 additional topics. The Prevention Task Force hosted the event, and director Niki Graham said the numbers of women who attended amazed her.
“Women’s health is more and more important. We’ve got to remember to take care of ourselves so we can take care of others,” Graham explained.
From Noelle, the anatomically-correct mannequin who gave birth, to checking carotid arteries to Clinique make-up artists from Dillard’s, there was something for everyone.
Life-size cutouts of women, all shapes and sizes, lined the two-mile walk/run course along Hwy. 93, also part of the event. It was the second year the plywood ladies helped draw attention to the fair. The brainchild of Wal-Mart employee Kristy Humble, the cutouts were made by tracing around Humble’s family and friends. Wal-Mart donated the plywood and a saw and Kandi Holt cut out the figures. Then Humble, Preceptor Pi members and other friends painted and dressed the figures. Participants were urged to enjoy the sunny weather and walk or run for those who can’t.
Free tests — EKGs, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, carotid artery, bone density and vitamin deficiencies — were a major reason many women came to the fair.
“I’ve been meaning to come for the last couple of years, but this year I just decided I was coming,” a Polson woman said, so she took the morning off.
According to attendees, the tests provided were well-advertised before the event.
One lady confessed to loving the free bags given at registration.
KPAX anchor Jill Valley gave the key note address at the Johnny Arlee/ Victor Charlo Theatre at 1:15 pm. Diagnosed with breast cancer in July of 2010, Valley underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy and gave a moving personal testimony about her experiences dealing with the disease.
About 1,200 people attended Women 4 Wellness, according to Graham.
While she acknowledged the fair was a lot of work, she said it was worth every bit whether it saved one life or 1,000.
