On Thursday, May 22, downtown Avalon will be transformed into a “Celebration of Health,” according to Catalina Island Medical Center’s Dawn Sampson, LCSW and the Coordinator of this year’s Community Health Fair.
“We’re ‘taking it to the streets’ with a “Health Fest” concept to make low cost screenings and professional healthcare consultations accessible to residents and visitors,” Sampson announced.
On Thursday, May 22, downtown Avalon will be transformed into a “Celebration of Health,” according to Catalina Island Medical Center’s Dawn Sampson, LCSW and the Coordinator of this year’s Community Health Fair.
“We’re ‘taking it to the streets’ with a “Health Fest” concept to make low cost screenings and professional healthcare consultations accessible to residents and visitors,” Sampson announced.
After nearly two decades of using the Casino ballroom for its annual health fair, CIMC has chosen to offer a “Health Fest” type approach this spring with outdoor tents, booths and vendors livening up Front Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event has been postponed from its customary April date to May 22 to make preparations and plans for a “fair weather” event that will be convenient for locals on their lunch hours, visitors strolling by, school students and seniors.
“We want to make healthy options and intervention possible for anyone who needs it,” Sampson said. In past years many of those who struggled to find the time to go out to the Casino or lacked the strength to make it up the ramps to the Ballroom were too discouraged to participate.
At “Health Fest 2014” everyone will have easy access to important screenings for diabetes, skin cancer, vision and hearing problems, podiatry, blood pressure, HIV, cholesterol, prostate, pulmonary function and more.
Fun activities and music are planned along with healthy food options and information about CIMC’s successful “Stepping Into Health” Group Lifestyle Balance classes, CHOICES programs for youth and families, and other mental health and social services.
Save the date: Thursday May 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tell a friend. Consider volunteering or making a financial donation. Donations from local businesses and organizations are essential to help with the costs associated with sponsoring this year’s ambitious and exciting plans.
This inclusive event is an opportunity for businesses to promote a “celebration of health” by encouraging workers to take time off to attend “Health Fest” and receive these free or low-cost screenings and important medical consultations. “This is a potentially life-changing event and an opportunity for information, detection and prevention of serious medical conditions,” Sampson said.
For additional details about volunteering or recommending a healthcare provider to participate in this year’s “Health Fest,” call Dawn Sampson at (310) 510-0520 or email dsampson@cimedicalcenter.org.
To make a donation, make out checks to Catalina Island Medical Center (please indicate it is for Health Fest 2014) and mail them to PO Box 1563 Avalon, CA 90704.
