February was 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, the Blood Connection, Inter-faith Food Shuttle, Southeast Raleigh Promise and Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers sponsored 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 was free.
The community partners donated 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 provided noninvasive vascular/heart screenings including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), carotid ultrasound, and ankle-brachial index (ABI). The studies were read by a cardiologist who will contact participants to review their results and arrange for an office visit or additional testing, if needed. The Links, Incorporated and community partners also shared information about prostate health; 2020 US Census and the importance of being counted.
Over 80 participants including 30 members of the Raleigh (NC) Chapter attended the event. Participants were given Links swag bags filled with water bottles, healthy snacks and informative brochures after completing a survey to provide us with feedback about the event. Many thanks to our community partners who volunteered their time, talents and treasures to help us serve our community.
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