NMSU-A offers free screenings at Health and Wellness Fair

New Mexico State University-Alamogordo hosts its fifth annual free Health and Wellness Fair Feb. 22.

Area residents can take advantage of free health screenings, exhibits and physical activities. The overall theme for the fair is 'Health Rocks!' Speakers will speak from 9 to 11:45 a.m.

Denise Pace with Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center will talk about cancer, bone disease and allergies in 45-minute sessions at each hour.

Kelly Night with Eat Well Otero will talk about nutrition and diet fads.

There will be 68 exhibits on display from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the gym.

A variety of health screenings will be available to attendees including free vision, spinal chord and dental screenings.

Blue Cross Blue Shield will be outside conducting cholesterol screenings, said Ernestine Baca, New Mexico State University-Alamogordo (NMSU-A) Health Fair coordinator.

Students with the NMSU-A Nursing Department will offer blood glucose and blood pressure testing.

"So there are a lot of free screenings for everybody to come in," Baca said.

The obstacle sprint race will begin at the NMSU trail north of the college will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. There will be two sessions; one for families and area residents, and a competitive race for businesses or athletes.

"They will climb over a wall, they will crawl on a net on their knees, they will flip tractor tires," Baca said.

"They will be carrying water up a hill and they will be throwing a javelin, so what we in the obstacle race, is you test your strength, your power, of course your endurance and then there's running at the very end also, so it's got a little bit of everything."

The volleyball game will take place inside the gym from 4 to 5 p.m. This year, the players will form two teams; comprised of NMSU-A employees and students. There will be three games.

Baca said some out-of-town businesses from Albuquerque and Las Cruces will also have exhibits.

"There's a lot of businesses within the Alamogordo area that are involved but we also some out of town businesses coming into participate," Baca said.

Free exercise classes will be offered through MIXXEDFit, Zumba and Qi-Gong, as well as cross-training.

"We tell everybody to come prepared to play and to have some fun," Baca said.

"We just want to improve our health here in our community and give back."

The Alamogordo Public Schools food truck to provide food for purchase outside from 9 to 2 p.m. 

The entire event will be on Saturday from 8:30 to 5 p.m. at the Tays Center on N. Scenic Drive.

Anyone can participate and the event is free and open to the public. For more information or to register for the races or volleyball game, contact Baca at 575-439-3857.

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Cristina Carreon can be reached at ccarreon@alamogordonews.com, 575-437-7120 or on Twitter @Cris_carreon90.