Get Healthy

Settings, 120 S. Main St., is sponsoring a drive to supply new pajamas for women and children at St. Jude House.

By picking an ornament off the giving tree in the store’s window, shoppers will buy and wrap a new pair of pajamas for the nonprofit that provides services to victims of domestic violence.

Pajamas can be brought to Settings now through Dec. 20. The store will have a holiday open house Nov. 21 and 22. Those who bring wrapped pajamas will be entered in a drawing for a $100 gift certificate.

For more information, call Brenda Matz at 219.662.7062.

Community members may obtain tests, screenings, and information on healthy living

Senior students with the Indiana University Northwest School of Nursing will host the annual health fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Savannah Center Gymnasium, in the southeast corner of the main campus parking lot at 33rd Avenue and Broadway.

Available services will include blood work, free health screenings, and health information. The theme for this year’s fair is “Don’t Monkey Around: Go Bananas for Good Health!” This event is open to the campus and Northwest Indiana residents.

Lipid, metabolic and hemagram profiles will be available, along with blood pressure and bone-density screenings and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which screens for prostate cancer in men ages 40 to 50 years and older.
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Jill Kane always organized the Walk for a Cure when she lived in Naperville. Ill., with her mother until her mom passed away in 2007.

“We ran it in Naperville and when I realized there was no walk here in Valparaiso I contacted the foundation (National Breast Cancer Foundation) and asked if I could organize one here,” Kane said.

The walk is from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 25 at Rogers-Lakewood Park in Valparaiso. Registration begins at noon. It’s a three mile walk throughout the park area. People can get pledges and donations ahead of time, but they don’t have to have pledges.

“We are asking that folks bring the pink ribbon (located on this page) with someone’s name on it and we will take any donation for them to walk.” Kane said. “This isn’t like the big walks where people have to have pledged a certain amount of money just to participate.”

Any donation is welcome but shirts for the event are $20.
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Illiana Christian sophomore Max Boonstra, left, runs with his father Pete Boonstra, who is the school’s principal, on Monday. Max is the youngest entrant from the Region who is competing in Sunday’s Chicago Marathon. (Photograph by Kyle Telechan/The Times.)

Are you planning to run the 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon? Don’t wince. Age is just a number.

Cedar Lake’s Max Boonstra will be tackling his first marathon this Sunday. Boonstra is 16.

Flossmoor’s Hal Weatherford is competing in his ninth Chicago. Weatherford is 79.

And Schererville’s Beverly Bonnema Ream has never run a 26.2-mile marathon until now—at age 62.
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Fundraiser walk for juvenile diabetes research Sept. 27 at Hidden Lake Park

While most kids are able to enjoy a carefree life, a child with diabetes always has to be on alert to their physical condition, diet and moods and testing blood sugar is something that must be done several times daily. It’s a much different existence than for a child who can play and eat candy and ice cream all day without giving it a second thought. And there is currently no cure for the chronic disease.

That said, medical advances have enabled kids to take part in more activities, improved blood sugar level monitoring procedures and have provided a pump worn by many patients that replaces painful insulin shots.

Diabetes has been growing in recent years and we often hear how Type 2 diabetes is on the rise due to obesity, poor diets and inactivity. About 186,300 youths age 18 and younger in this country have diabetes, and most have Type 1 diabetes (formerly known as juvenile diabetes), which has a different cause—often heredity. Read the rest of this entry »

From the Get Healthy Inbox—We’re committed to keeping you informed on health care news and ideas throughout the region and nation. Here’s today’s recommendation, submitted by Saint Anthony Memorial:

When: Saturday, ­Oct. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 PM in Saint Francis Hall (located in the lower level of our Health Center).

This course is a certification course being offered for our community members. Adult, child, and infant CPR and foreign body airway obstruction removal are taught. AED use and airway management are taught.
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Porter County’s “Start! Heart Walk” takes place Sept. 26 at Coffee Creek in Chesterton

Next weekend is not only a good time to start on the path to fitness but it’s also the perfect opportunity to give to a worthy cause.

More than 1,000 area residents will share a common charitable goal as they gather for Porter County’s “Start! Heart Walk” on Sept. 26 at Coffee Creek in Chesterton.

Registration begins at 9 a.m., and participants may choose from a 1-, 2- or 3-mile walk.
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Simko Striders will raise funds for Lupus Foundation

Richard Simko Sr.

Walk for Lupus Now’s “Simko Striders” missed one of their key team members at this year’s Lupus Foundation of America, Indiana Chapter’s annual fundraising walk. Richard Simko, Sr., 75, passed away in February surrounded by his loving family after a 25-year battle with lupus.

Yet the family knew they would come together again this year to raise funds for a cause the family is passionate about.

The ninth annual Walk for Lupus Now was held Saturday, at Festival Park, 11 E. Old Ridge Road in Hobart. The 5K/3.1 mile noncompetitive walk benefits the Lupus Foundation of America, Indiana Chapter (LFA). There is no fee to walk, but prizes will be awarded to those meeting fundraising minimums.

The chapter office is at 2642 Eleanor St. in Portage. Call 800.948.8806 toll free or visit lupusindiana.org.
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From the Get Healthy Inbox—We’re committed to keeping you informed on health care news and ideas throughout the region and nation. Here’s today’s recommendation, submitted by the Alzheimer’s Association:

On September 12, the Alzheimer’s Association will host a special screening of “Caregivers,” one of the documentaries in the HBO series The Alzheimer’s Project followed by a group discussion and Q and A session. The screening will take place at the Harrah’s Horseshoe (777 Casino Dr, Hammond) beginning at 1 p.m. This screening is being held in conjunction with the Harrah’s Foundation and Harrah’s Horseshoe Casino.

The free screening event will be an opportunity for those without access to the film to be able to view the documentary. The screening will include viewing of the film which is approximately one hour in length. Following the viewing, attendees will be able to ask questions, discuss the film and share their own personal experiences during the group discussion. This discussion will be lead by professionals in the health care and long-term care fields.
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For Laura Hernandez-Myers, of LaPorte County, it’s of utmost importance to her and her family to participate in the MS Society’s major benefits. She and her team, LaVone-Love-On, will gather together in Walk MS for the second year. (Photograph courtesy of Laura Hernandez-Myers.)

Hundreds of fitness-minded and philanthropic folk will lace up their walking shoes for a good cause next weekend.

The annual Northwest Indiana Walk MS, benefiting the Indiana State Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, will take place Sept. 13 at Purdue University Calumet’s Fitness and Recreation Center.

“This is, by far, our largest fundraiser,” said Karen Csanyi, event chairwoman. “We’re expecting more than 1,000 walkers,” she said, adding committee members, volunteers and community residents annually help make the event a success.

According to the MS Society, the goal is to raise more than $150,000.

The majority of funds raised at the local walk, Csanyi said, will be used in Northwest Indiana with some money allocated for national research.

Proceeds garnered often assist in obtaining wheelchairs, canes and other medical supplies for individuals with a portion going to the group’s special programs.

Multiple Sclerosis, which is chronic and disabling, is categorized as an autoimmune disease. It attacks the central nervous system and has diverse symptoms varying from person to person. Some people suffer tremendously on a daily basis while others, such as Csanyi, live without major debilitation.
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