FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 19, 2007

Contact: K.E. Schwab  

724.738.2199

 karl.schwab@sru.edu

SRU Healthfest provides wealth of healthy lifestyle information 

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Free health screenings and a wealth of information on healthy living highlight Slippery Rock University’s 22nd Healthfest Tuesday in the Robert N. Aebersold Student Recreation Center. The daylong event runs from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

           Sponsored by the Office of Campus Recreation, the free event allows regional health services providers and SRU students in various health-related majors to exhibit their services provide health information on a variety of topics.

           “This event gives SRU students the chance to put their classroom learning into practice. The professionals and students provide important information to Healthfest visitors. This event gives students hands-on training in providing information and screenings for blood pressure, posture and percent of body fat ratings,” said Brian Mortimer, coordinator of wellness at the Russell Wright Fitness Center, part of the student recreation facility.

           More than 50 health-related agencies and programs will staff tables offering information on health issues. Included will be Butler Memorial Hospital, offering osteoporosis screenings; Grove City Medical Center, offering impedance analysis related to body composition; Jameson Behavioral Health Unit, offering depression screenings; and the Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania, offering lupus screenings. 

           “Of course, we also use the event to promote the activities of the recreation center, including memberships available to the public, as well as reminders for students about all of the facilities and programs they can use at the ARC,” Mortimer said.

           SRU’s McLachlan Student Health Center will offer flu shots to SRU students with ID. The Visiting Nurses of Western Pennsylvania will offer blood pressure screenings, and the Wal-Mart Vision Center will provide vision screenings. AVI Food Systems, the campus contract food vendor, will provide information about healthy snacks and Vitality Foodservice Inc. will provide healthy juice samples.

           Weight Watchers will staff an information booth. The SRU Women’s Center will offer healthy lifestyles tips for women and is sponsoring an “In the Pink” promotion for breast cancer awareness and the importance of walking to maintain health. “In the Pink” T-shirts, at $5, are on sale as part of the awareness campaign and a 12:30 p.m. group walk starting at Healthfest is planned.                         

           Information on gerontology, mental health, leukemia, lymphoma, hospice care, heart and chiropractic services will be available along with a host of other health topics.

           Entertainment includes the Slippery Rock Senior Center demonstrating line dancing at 11 a.m. Aubrey Worek offering a “Silver Sneaker Demonstration” at noon; and the Dance Express performing at 12:30 p.m. Patricia Pierce, professor of exercise and rehabilitative sciences at SRU, lectures about “Wellness Coaching” at 1 p.m., and The Rock cheerleaders perform at 12:35 p.m. SRU’s Jazz Combo, directed by Stephen Hawk, associate professor of music, plays from 12:45 until 2 p.m.

           “We originally organized Healthfest under the concept of educating people about the benefits of wellness. Wellness is a comprehensive term, including physical, spiritual, emotional, social, intellectual and life-planning dimensions of health. We think by providing the community, both those on campus and those in the greater Slippery Rock community, with information we can help everyone lead a healthier life,” Mortimer said.

           The theme for this year’s program is “Your Health Can Be Heaven in 2007.”

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.

PN, PGN, WPN, PR