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Health and Wellness Fair set for April 4 at DHS
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DARLINGTON - A coalition of Lafayette County health and wellness facilities have joined forces to provide educational opportunities and support in the area. Healthy Family Connections...Health and Wellness Fair is planned from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 4, at the Darlington High School. This free event will include tips, resources and education to help people make healthier lifestyle choices. Spanish interpretation services are available throughout the event. The morning will begin with registration and welcoming beginning at 8 a.m. A wide variety of businesses and vendors will be available in the gymnasium to give ideas on local health and wellness opportunities.

Guest keynote speaker, Rebecca Schultz, a Darlington native, will speak at 9 a.m. on integrated holistic health, which encourages health promotion, disease prevention and healthy lifestyles. A wide variety of consecutive breakout sessions will begin at 10 a.m. including: Maintaining Brain Health as we age, presented by Carol Nimlos of the Alzheimer's Association; Kids in the Kitchen-fun cooking activities for kids, presented by Mary Knellwolf of the Lafayette County UW-Extension; Healthy Cooking: Dinner and a Brown Bag Lunch, demonstrated by Barb Eicher; Stroke Prevention: You need more than Luck!, planned by Dr. David Lewis of WI Heart and Vascular Institute; Stroke Chain of Survival: It starts with you!, presented by Shari Ruesga, RN of Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County; and Yoga for Health and Vitality, demonstrated by Jai Kellum.

Plan ahead for a free stroke risk assessment screening provided by MHLC, Lafayette County Health Department and Family Health of Lafayette County. The screening will include risk factors, blood pressure, pulse, blood sugar level, total cholesterol and a follow up action plan. To make an appointment, call (608) 776-4466 extension 400. Other free screenings include body composition screening by Meriter Hospital, confidential depression screening by Lafayette County Human Services and posture analysis by Whalen Chiropractic. Children's car seat inspections will be provided by the Darlington Police Department and MHLC, as well as fun activities for kids provided by the Girl Scouts and Families First of Lafayette County. There will also be plenty of free giveaways and healthy snacks.

This very special educational opportunity is brought to you by the planning efforts of Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County, the Lafayette County Health Department, and UW Extension of Lafayette County, which began back in October of 2008 when this coalition was awarded grant funding by the WI Office of Rural Health. Also providing support for this event is the Dora Ritter Wellness Center, Lafayette County Commission on Aging and the Aging Well Living Well Coalition.

For more information on this health fair, call MHLC Community Outreach at (608) 776-5731 or the Lafayette County Health Department at (608) 776-4895.