Jewish Family Service of Tidewater kicked off the 9th Annual Week of Healthy Living with a Race Expo on May 3, followed by the 9th Annual Run, Roll or Stroll on Sunday, May 5.
With a record 625 participants, this year’s race—which included an 8K run, 5K run/walk and 1-mile run/walk was a huge success. “We were so pleased with the participation in this year’s race,” says Betty Ann Levin, JFS executive director. “We thank our sponsors, our volunteers and everyone who came out to make this year’s event such a success.”
The Week of Healthy Living continued with a program on brain health on Tuesday, May 7 presented by Robert M. Palmer, MD, MPH, director of the Glennan Center for Geriatrics and Gerontolgoy, Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr. Palmer dispelled common myths about the brain and gave practical tips for keeping the brain healthy.
The following evening, Wednesday, May 8, JFS hosted a major donor reception preceding its program on Jewish genetic diseases. The program was presented by Faye L. Shapiro, MS, CGC, from the Victor Center for the Prevention of Jewish Genetic Diseases, Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia and Steven Warsof, MD, professor, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of OB-GYN, Eastern Virginia Medical School. Shapiro and Warsof discussed the 19 preventable Jewish genetic diseases and what’s involved in a genetic screening. At this program, JFS announced the date for its community genetic screening— Sunday, Dec. 15.
The Week of Healthy Living concluded on Thursday, May 9 with a community blood drive, free blood pressure checks, and free balance screenings by JFS nurses and physical therapists.
Jewish Family Service is a constituent agency of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater.
by Amy Cobb