Lab work, live music highlights of health fair
Staff writer
Despite grim weather, Marion County’s 10th annual health fair drew an impressive crowd to the second level of Marion’s Sports and Aquatic Center Saturday morning.
A total 31 exhibitors and 227 attendees were present, according to organizers.
“This year, for the first time, we had live music and health expert talks,” coordinator Jessica Gilbert said.
Mark Rooker, CEO of Hillsboro Community Hospital, said the fair drew more exhibitors than in past years.
Live music came from 102-year-old Bob Delk and various friends, who performed from 8 to 9:15 a.m.
Nursing homes, health insurance companies, and the county department on aging set up booths and passed out leaflets. Fairgoers entered their names in different prize draws from the exhibitors.
Forty-five prizes were awarded by the end of the event.
More eccentric displays included an operational massage booth and an inflatable dragon encouraging passers-by to get flu and COVID shots.
The two county hospitals — St. Luke in Marion and Hillsboro Community Hospital — sponsored the fair, along with the county health department.
The hospitals had set up lab stations, which Gilbert highlighted as a vital part of the fair.
“The big draw for this is the labs, which is such an inexpensive rate,” she said. “It’s a community service the hospitals do.”
Participants could have blood work done for 35 dollars.
Some doctors advised patients to get lab work done at the fair because of the price, Gilbert said.
The mood was bubbly around the space, as families milled around, listening to health presentations and waiting for prize draws.
“I’m a big believer in community, which means ‘come-unity,’” Gilbert said. “I like to see unity between all the different hospitals and health organizations.”