“Family Wellness Fair” held this Wednesday in honor of National Hospital Week; Chuck Long is special guest at 20th annual event

The annual “Family Wellness Fair” will be held this Wednesday, May 10 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. The “Family Wellness Fair” is a community wide event offering families of all ages a night of entertainment and education about the local resources available to them, plus many free health testing opportunities. This fun-filled family event is free and open to all members of the community of any age.

This is the 20th annual event sponsored by Veterans Memorial Hospital and will include some special added attractions to celebrate this milestone. New this year, a photo booth will be available, plus a “Dunk Your Doctor” dunk tank will be on the grounds for a fun opportunity to raise funds for the Allamakee Relief Office and the local Veterans Quilts of Valor project.

Also, the Iowa Sports Foundation and Live Healthy Iowa directors will be on site.  Chuck Long, former Iowa Hawkeye quarterback and pro football player, is now the Director of the Iowa Sports Foundation and will be at the fair to visit and sign autographs.  Live Healthy Iowa Director Dr. Amy Michelle Willcockson will be giving a “state of health” address presenting the truth about health in our county, the opportunities we have to improve health in Iowa families and what actions can be taken today to make a difference.

She will present at three different times throughout the fair, at 4 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room.

“We are happy to offer this special 20th annual wellness fair again this year as part of our Hospital Week celebration for the area communities we serve,” states Mike Myers, Administrator of Veterans Memorial Hospital.  “We hope many members of the area communities can attend this event as a thank you from us for all of the support shown us this past year.”

At the Fair, health testing, exhibits and refreshments will all be providing a complete evening of entertainment and education for all families of any ages. 

Entertainment for the evening will include special appearances by “Klyde Thinger” the Clown, plus balloon artist Paul Kammarmeyer, who will again be onsite making his creative balloon creations for the children attending the Fair. In addition, a Waukon Fire Department fire truck and hospital ambulance will be parked in the front entrance to the hospital for children to view. Face painting will again be offered at the event and radio stations KMRV 9.1 “The River” and KNEI 103.5 will be broadcasting onsite. Child Car seat checks will also be offered by certified professionals who will be located at the shipping/receiving entrance to the hospital.

Over 40 exhibitors will have tables on display providing demonstrations, games and crafts for the entire family. Veterans Memorial Hospital staff will be on hand to perform a number of free health tests. Plus, healthy snacks and fresh fruit will be provided by the hospital’s Nutrition Services Department.

Over 100 door prizes will be given away throughout the evening. All visitors to the “Family Wellness Fair” are eligible to win just by signing in at the registration table as they enter the main entrance of the hospital. Names will be drawn throughout the evening, with all winners having their choice of door prizes.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will also be awarding prizes at the Wellness Fair to all those in Allamakee and northern Clayton counties who participated in the Live Healthy Iowa 10 week wellness challenge in 2017. In order to claim a participation prize at the Wellness Fair, Live Healthy Iowa participants are asked to present their access card at the receptionist desk during the fair. Personalized participant access cards can be found by going to the Live Healthy Iowa website at www.livehealthyiowa.org and under the participant’s “my dashboard” tab, clicking on the “access card” graphic at the bottom right of that dashboard page. The card can then be printed and brought in to redeem the prize.

Everyone in the area communities is welcome to attend this free event, sponsored by Veterans Memorial Hospital.  For any additional information, contact Erin Berns, Public Relations Director at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.