Unless there’s a doctor in the family, it’s not very often that a person has the unique chance to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with a physician, asking questions and getting one-on-one health advice and tips in an outdoor setting. But that valuable opportunity, and many others, will come Sept. 29 during the North Royalton Health Fair & Family Expo sponsored by the City of North Royalton, North Royalton City Schools and Southwest General North Royalton Physical Therapy.

Back for its ninth year at North Royalton High School, the event will be held from 8:30 a.m. until noon Sept. 29 and feature a range of activities, including free health screenings, meet-and-greets with more than 65 health, wellness and community organization vendors, hourly prize raffle drawings and grand raffle baskets, demonstrations by the EMS team at University Hospitals Parma Medical Center and local safety officials, and an American Red Cross Blood Drive.

The 5K Bear Run – an annual favorite – will depart the high school parking lot at 9 a.m. The Family Wellness Walk will depart at 9 a.m. as well and feature one-on-one time with Dr. Charita Ray of University Hospitals Parma Medical Center family medicine. Registration forms are available on the city’s website, northroyalton.org, or by calling (440) 237-5646. Day-of, on-site registration will also be available, but may not include a commemorative shirt. At 9:15 a.m., the North Royalton City Schools Turkey Trot will take place with nonperishable food donations accepted in the high school cafeteria. Donations benefit the city’s food bank.

Another perennial favorite – a free pancake breakfast courtesy of City Council President and upcoming mayoral candidate Larry Antoskiewicz – will be held throughout the event until 11 a.m.

There will be no excuses this fall to get vital health screenings, as the event will feature a range of free checks for injury, balance and Scoliosis, bone density, audiology, blood pressure and glucose screenings, all sponsored by SW General Health Center. Flu shots will be offered for $30.

Dr. Mark Panigutti of OrthoWest Ltd. will present a talk in the performing arts center titled, “Joint Replacement Surgery: Achieving Successful Outcomes.” Expo-goers can also enjoy a performance by Cannon Irish Dance and a visit from the Parma Animal Shelter as the event’s featured animal shelter. If available, the shelter will bring pets open for adoption.

NRHS graduate Dylan Dapsis will serve as emcee of the North Royalton Health Fair & Family Expo.

“There will be a wide variety of health, wellness and community vendors who will be on-hand to provide free health screens, giveaways and vital information on the services they provide,” said Christine Coniglio, committee member and expo event coordinator. “This is a free event that will benefit every member of the community at all ages.”

The free family event is known to be a true one-stop-shop for all things health and wellness, and through the years has assisted thousands of attendees in getting access to services they need.

“It’s our ninth annual event and it’s all because of the wonderful collaboration between the City, Schools and Southwest General North Royalton Physical Therapy, formerly Sports Rehabilitation Consultants Physical Therapy,” Coniglio said. “We’ve all been working together for almost a decade to make this event happen, add new vendors and make it a success.”

By SARA MACHO HILL

Contributing  Writer