Hundreds attend annual community health fair

Since 1984 the annual Graham Community Health and Wellness Fair has helped those throughout the area who struggle to afford blood screenings by providing it free of charge to all those who register. The program started with only 50 participants in it’s first fair but has now grown to having 750 attend the latest fair and 513 participating in the blood screenings. The screenings are paid for through Graham Regional Medical Center by donations and later they provide the participants with a mailed letter with results. The results of the letter include red and white blood cell counts, cholesterol levels, a heart attack risk rating, glucose levels and men are given the option to receive a prostate serum antibody test. Along with a blood screenings, visitors come from near and far for free hearing and vision tests which are provided at the fair by the Graham Hearing Center and Graham Lions Club. “People who are visiting their families come, but the majority are from Graham and Young County basically, but we do have others come that are not,” said Health Fair coordinator Lisa Kellow. Over 40 booths set up at the event this year and Kellow, who also serves as the chief nursing operator at Graham Regional Medical Center, said she starts scheduling booths and the event in April. Kellow said she is asked after each event when the next one will be. For the rest of this story, pick up a copy of Wednesday’s Graham Leader, or subscribe to our online edition.