SRU Healthfest promotes ‘run, walk, get well’ message

Oct. 12, 2016

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - More than 60 health screening stations, information booths and an "In the Pink" breast cancer awareness walk will be offered during Slippery Rock University's 31st Annual Healthfest from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Oct. 18 at the Aebersold Student Recreation Center.

Sponsored by the Office of Campus Recreation, new elements at this year's event will include free flu shots for faculty and staff, a physical therapy booth and chiropractic spinal screenings. This year's theme is, "We Run With It, Walk With It and Get Well With It."

Brian Mortimer, coordinator of wellness and the Russell Wright Fitness Center, said Healthfest seeks to promote a big-picture awareness of wellness, as embodied by SRU's seven pillars of health - physical, emotional, spiritual, social, intellectual, environmental and occupational.

"The idea is that we're trying to make people aware of all those dimensions and how those dimensions can be used to increase personal health," Mortimer said. "What I try to do with Healthfest is get as many organizations to represent as many of the different aspects of wellness as possible."

"Being healthy is more than just the absence of illness," said Greg Sferra, director of campus recreation. "Wellness involves multiple dimensions. We only get one life and one body to live it in. I, for one, don't want to trap myself in a body that won't allow me to live life to its fullest."

The event will offer screenings on and for: nutrition analysis; eating habits; body fat index; blood pressure; and depression. Participating vendors include local hospitals, vision and hearing centers, Giant Eagle and the SRU Student Counseling Center. AVI Foodsystems will offer healthy snacks and fruit-infused water.

"It's about promoting awareness and creating an atmosphere of support for people," said Karen Perry, associate director of campus recreation, of the event.

The one-mile "In the Pink" breast cancer awareness walk will begin at 12:30 p.m. Preregistration is not necessary.

Entertainment for the event will be provided by the SRU Dance Express, which will perform at 12:30 p.m., followed by Jamrock at 12:40 p.m.

MEDIA CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine | 724.738.4854 | gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu