October 10, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center, along with Lawson State Community College and the Friends of West End, will host a Community Health and Wellness Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Lawson State Community College, Birmingham Campus, 3060 Wilson Road SW, Birmingham 35211.

The event will kick off with a cancer "strut" parade led by two Clydesdale horses and the Wenonah High School Marching Band to help raise awareness of the need for cancer screenings and prevention.

Following the parade, health screenings and wellness information will be provided by a number of organizations, including the Public Education Employees Wellness Program, Lawson State Community College School of Nursing, Jefferson County Public Health Department, American Red Cross, West Princeton Dental Clinic, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America-Central Alabama, Cooper Green Mercy Hospital, Bessemer YMCA, UAB School of Dentistry, UAB Eat Right, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Wal-Mart Vision Center, UAB Vaccine Research Clinic, Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, American Heart Association, American Cancer Association, Healthy Start, Project H.E.L.P., and Riviera Fitness Center - Fairfield

The health and wellness day is part of the MHRC's Building Healthy Communities, which seeks to empower people in underserved communities to find solutions to their health problems. The project's goal is to increase awareness of and participation in disease-prevention and wellness activities.

Sponsors of the event include the UAB REACH US project, which concentrates on cancer prevention, the UAB Be Fit! Be Well! project that focuses on increasing physical activity and better nutrition, Birmingham Vision and Birmingham City Councilors Carole Smitherman and Miriam Witherspoon.