Roundup of health-based events
Stroke award
SPRINGFIELD -- Mercy Medical Center has received the "Get With The Guidelines," the Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award, from the American Heart Association, for ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted guidelines. This marks the third year the center has been recognized with a quality achievement award.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death, and serious long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
Special benefit
HOLYOKE - A "Free-Spirit Zumbathon, to benefit The Martha E. Keochareon Memorial Nursing Scholarship, will be held Dec. 29, from 10 a.m. to noon, in the Bartley Center at Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Ave. Tickets are $20, in advance, or at the door.
The scholarship was created by Keochareon's family shortly after her death to carry on her legacy of helping others. Keochareon, who fought a six-year battle with pancreatic cancer, was a nurse, and alumna of the college, whose story became national news when, in her final months of life, she invited the college's nursing students into her life and her home to learn first-hand about cancer, death and dying.
Instructors for the event will include Melanie Sartori, Rosara Pellicier and Susie Hill. Raffle tickets will be sold, and the event will end with a best-dressed prize. Participants are invited to dress in a colorful gym outfit in honor of Keochareon.
For more information, to purchase tickets or donate a raffle prize, contact Barb at (413) 896-6733, bcdimauro@comcast.net or on FaceBook: Free Spirit Zumbathon.
Fund-raiser
SPRINGFIELD - The 28th annual Christmas benefit concert, for the American Cancer Society, will be held Dec. 8 at 3:30 p.m. at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 22 St. George Road.
The event, which includes a community sing-along, features the Westfield State University Wind Symphony and Chorale, and the St. George Grande Chorale. A donation of $10 for adults is requested, $5 for college students, with valid I.D., and for children under 12.
Tickets are being sold in advance at the Greek Cultural Center, 22 St. George Rd., Memorial Square, as well as at door.
A dessert and finger food reception will take place after the concert the Greek Cultural Center across the street from the cathedral. There is free parking at the center, as well as spaces for handicapped parking on the cathedral grounds. For tickets, or more information, call the center (413) 737-1496.
Gluten-free
ENFIELD - Beth Hillson, food editor of Living Without, and President of the American Celiac Disease Alliance, as well as the founder of the Gluten Free Pantry line of products, will speak at the gluten-free support group on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Enfield Senior Center, 299 Elm St. The group is sponsored by ShopRite of Enfield. For more information, contact Michelle Mattia, ShopRite dietitian, at Michelle.Mattia@wakefern.com or (860) 253-4173.
Appointment
GREENFIELD - Laura Pearson-Smith, of Springfield, has joined Baystate Franklin Medical Center as the new laboratory manager. She will oversee staff and lab operations at both Baystate Franklin and Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, in Ware.
Pearson-Smith graduated from Springfield Technical Community College, with an associate's degree in medical laboratory science. She continued her education at Westfield State College, where she received a bachelor of science in biology, and Western New England University, where she received a master of science in accounting.
Pearson-Smith worked in various capacities at Baystate Medical Center since 1980.
Starting as a medical laboratory technician, she advanced to a medical technologist and, in 2003 was appointed supervisor of the immunology laboratory.
Senior help
HOLYOKE -- Holyoke Medical Center, in conjunction with SHINE, a statewide program funded and managed by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, is providing seniors with free information and advocacy regarding medical insurance.
Seniors may receive free, confidential counseling regarding health care coverage. A counselor will be available on the third Wednesday of each month at the Medical Library, located on the 4th floor, Room 474 of the main hospital. Appointments begin at 9 a.m., and may be made by calling (413) 534-2789. All seniors must have an appointment in order to be seen.
Tree lighting
SPRINGFIELD -- The annual "Gift of Light" campaign for the Cancer Support Groups and Patient Services Fund at Mercy Medical Center begins with tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 9, at 5:30 p.m. The center provides free, weekly support group meetings for people with cancer and their families. The groups also provide educational speakers.
The cost is offset through the sale of lights for the holiday tree. One light is $10, four lights are $35 and six lights are $50. Donations can be made at Mercy RX in the center 299 Lobby. Donations may also be mailed to Mercy's Fund Development Department, 271 Carew St., Springfield, MA., 01104. Make checks payable to: Mercy Medical Center and designate Cancer Support Groups or the Patient Services Fund.
Help families
SPRINGFIELD -- The Catholic Charities Agency of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield is again conducting its Sponsor-a-Family- for-Christmas program, which allows families, parish groups and individuals to anonymously provide gifts for local families in need.
Participating sponsors will receive information about the families, including the Christmas wish lists of the children and adults. The wrapped gifts are then brought to the Catholic Charities offices, where they will be distributed to the agency's client families.
Those interested in sponsoring a family should contact Laura Saponare, Catholic Charities social service coordinator, at (413) 452-0580.All gifts must be delivered by Dec. 16 at the Catholic Charities offices, 65 Elliot St.
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