Walk America program plans 2007 kick-off breakfast
People interested in helping with the Spokane March of Dimes annual WalkAmerica project aimed at preventing premature births can join a kick-off breakfast Thursday.
Connie Mutton, neonatal intensive care nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center, will be the featured speaker at the event, held at the Red Lion Hotel at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive. For starting time and other information, contact Darah Poffenroth at (509) 328-1920 or by e-mail at dpoffenroth@ marchofdimes.com.
The breakfast will help prepare for WalkAmerica, a popular fundraising event planned this year on April 21, at Gonzaga University. Kurt Walsdorf of Bank of America is the WalkAmerica 2007 chairman.
The event helps raise money to combat premature birth, the leading killer of newborns in the United States. In Washington, more than 8,000 babies each year are born too soon. Many die; others have lifelong health problems.
Mickelson honored for service
Gar Mickelson, pastor of the Evangelical Friends Church in Hayden Lake, Idaho, was honored Monday as one of seven Idaho regional community service award winners for his efforts to prevent or treat substance abuse.
Mickelson, who advocates for community change, received the award during ceremonies in Boise held by the Regional Advisory Committees on Substance Abuse.
The group chose Rep. Margaret Henbest, R-Boise, to receive the fourth annual Patricia Kempthorne Award, which recognizes outstanding work in substance abuse and treatment.
Free heart health screening
Free heart health screenings will be offered on Feb. 24 at Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane through the Community Health Education and Resources program, or CHER.
The screenings will be available by appointment only from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call (509) 232-8154 to schedule. They will include total cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure and body fat.
Participants will be able to review their individual risk factors for developing coronary artery disease. CHER is a program of Inland Northwest Health Services.