Yes – and that is just one of the active approaches that is coming up in our community to encourage each of us to embrace healthier lifestyles, have our recommended screenings to help ensure early detection of any issues, and help support important causes in our community which help those with medical needs.  As Spring begins to emerge (it’s coming!), there are a number of fun and important events to get on your calendars – and painting your way to better health is just one of them!

Painting?  Yes. On March 15, NMC is hosting another of our popular “Paint and Prevent” events.  This is creative event enables attendees to enjoy a guided painting lesson (led by Claire Payne this time) as well as get a preventive mammography screening. This Paint and Prevent will take place from 5:00pm to 8:30 pm in NMC’s Courtyard Café. Participants must be due for their mammogram and will pause their painting briefly for their screening just down the hall from the Café.  Patients will be registered in Diagnostic Imaging for screening, which can be billed to your insurance. The cost of the event is $35 plus the cost of mammogram. Scholarships provided by the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Pfizer are available for both the mammogram and the painting class costs. NMC’s Paint & Prevents have been a popular way for friends and coworkers to spend some time together in support of a healthy activity. Pre-registration is required, sign up today by calling NMC’s Community Relations Office at 524-1280.  Mammography is an important part of individual health as the early detection of concerns that it provides significantly improve the outcomes for patients.  If you are not sure if you are due for a mammogram, or on what cycle you should be receiving them, please speak to your Primary Care provider.

How about bowling for better health in our community?  We do that too! Not only is bowling a fun physical activity for all ages, it’s the centerpiece of a major fundraiser for the Jim Bashaw Cancer and Catastrophic Illness Fund.  This year’s bowlathon for that important cause will be held on Saturday, March 11, with two sessions (1-3pm and 4-6pm) at the Dairy Center in Enosburg.  The Jim Bashaw Cancer and Catastrophic Illness fund provides financial assistance to people in Franklin and Grand Isle counties who are struggling with cancer or a catastrophic illness. Since its inception in 2001, the fund has distributed over 832 grants totaling more than $465,000, with proceeds going directly to people from Franklin and Grand Isle Counties.  This is a very popular event that can sell out, but there may still be openings!  If you and your friends, family, and co-workers would like to enter a six-person team, you can get more information by contacting Kristen Tuttle in NMC Care Management at 524-8479 or email [email protected].

Also coming up in March is the Home & Recreation Expo put on by the Rotary Club of St. Albans.  This is a great opportunity to get your home ready for Spring and check out a wide variety of recreational opportunities that can help you on your path to better health.  The Expo is held at Collins Perley Sports & Fitness Center in St. Albans over three days: March 17, 18, and 19.  For more information on the Home & Recreation Expo, visit http://www.stalbansrotaryclub.com. Our friends from RiseVT will be participating with a creative approach for a bit of active plan for adults and kids, so watch for them!  For more information on RiseVT, our community’s campaign to embrace healthier lifestyles, improve the quality of life, and lower healthcare costs were we live, work, learn, and play, visit www.risevt.com

In May, another great community event relating to health and benefiting the Jim Bashaw Cancer and Catastrophic Illness fund is the 18^th annual Run For Jim. This event is open to walkers and runners of all abilities and all ages and is held at the Collins Perly Sports & Fitness Center. The kids’ portion starts at 8:30am on Sunday, May 7 and the adults’ take off at 9:30.  It really is a wonderful community event in memory of a wonderful community member.  For more information, visit: http://www.runvermont.org/event/18th-annual-runwalk-for-jim-5k/

As Spring arrives, the time is now to do something fun and positive for yourself. There are so many great activities – formal and informal – in our community that can help you get out of the house and be more active in your health and in helping others.  Please join me in weaving these into busy calendars and taking part.

— Jill Berry Bowen, NMC’s Chief Executive Officer