FREE HEALTH FAIR PROMOTES A HEALTHY HEART
February is National Heart Health Month. Cardiovascular, or heart, disease is the #1 cause of death among African Americans. To promote good heart health, the Raleigh (NC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, in collaboration with community partners including WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Southeast Raleigh YMCA, NC Counts Coalition, NC Minority Prostate Cancer Awareness Action Team, and the Blood Connection, will sponsor a free health fair on February 22, 2020 at the new Southeast Raleigh YMCA, located on Rock Quarry Road from 9:00 am until noon. Everything is free.
The community partners are donating thousands of dollars in free health screenings, health education, demonstrations, exercise instruction, and other fun activities for adults and children. WakeMed Corporate and Community Health’s mobile unit will provide noninvasive vascular/heart screenings including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), carotid ultrasound, and ankle-brachial index (ABI). The studies will be read by a cardiologist who will contact them to review their results and arrange for an office visit or additional testing, if needed. The Links, Incorporated and community partners will also share information about prostate health; 2020 US Census and the importance of being counted; human trafficking; and voter registration.
Brenda M. Lewis, president of the Raleigh (NC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated stated, “This is an opportunity to become more educated about the things we can do to improve our heart health. Heart disease in the African American community will continue to kill us at a higher rate than other ethnic groups unless we take personal responsibility to change our lifestyle. The valuable information you’ll receive from this health fair will put you on the path to better heart health.”
Everyone’s invited, there’s no registration required, and the free services will be provided on a first come first served basis. It doesn’t matter if you have private health insurance, no health insurance, or receive Medicaid or Medicare; there is no co-pay or fee for any of the services. Bring along a family member or a friend to arm yourself with the information necessary to fight the battle against heart disease and live a longer, healthier life.
In connection with the Health Fair, there will an opportunity to donate blood. If you are interested in donating, please utilize the link below to register. All donors will receive a $20 VISA card.