Updated Oct 11, 2011 @ 09:14 AM
The second annual Be Aware Women's Fair will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15. A $4 admission covers all exhibits, health screenings, demonstrations and entertainment.
"Because we recognize that women are often taking care of the health of everyone else in their families, including their children, partners and parents, we want them to be able to take some time for themselves at Memorial's Be Aware Women's Fair," said Tiffany Lowers, Memorial Medical Center's manager of Memorial's Outpatient Imaging Center at Baylis and chair of the Be Aware Women's Fair organizing committee.
More than 100 exhibits will be available for women to browse, covering topics such as clothing, finance, fitness, health, beauty, massage, fashion, home decoration, education and nutrition.
A grand-prize drawing will be held at the conclusion of the Be Aware Women's Fair. A complete list of the prizes is on the Be Aware Women's Fair website.
Breakfast items will be available to purchase. Box lunches will also be available for $7.75.
Demonstrations will be held at several exhibitor booths. They include:
Photography by Sara Gleckler at 9:45 a.m.
Oil portraits by Kimberly K. Magawon at 9:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Project CPR at 10:15 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Cooking with Memorial Medical Center's Food and Nutrition Services at 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Floral arrangements at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Cupcake decorating by Carolyn Coziahr at 11:15 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Plastic surgery Q&A by Dr. Jennifer Lee at 9:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The American Cancer Society will hold its annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk that same day at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. All women who are registered walkers will be able to show their Making Strides sticker for free admission to Memorial's Be Aware Women's Fair.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Commodities Pavilion, just west of the Grandstand. The walk begins at 9 a.m. at the pavilion and goes through the Department of Natural Resources area.
Proceeds from Memorial's Be Aware Women's Fair will go toward a mammography patient assistance fund. Free "mocktails" will be served at stations throughout the Orr Building, and women can choose to contribute to a tip jar; tips will go toward the assistance fund.
"This fund will support women who may need additional tests after receiving a positive result from a mammogram but cannot afford the associated expenses," Lowers said.
Events scheduled for the entertainment stage are: a Zumba dance fitness demonstration at 9:30 a.m., a belly-dancing performance at 10:30 a.m. and a fashion show at 11:30 a.m. Stevens DJ Service will provide music and will emcee the events on the entertainment stage.
The three women randomly chosen for the Be Aware Women's Fair Super Survivor makeover will be announced at 12:30 p.m. More than 30 nominations were received for the first year of the Super Survivor makeover. People were asked to nominate a breast cancer survivor whose cancer journey has been an inspiration to others.
Health screenings will include blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat, body mass index, bone density, blood sugar, spine health, depression, lung function and oral cancer screenings.
Other health initiatives include fitness evaluations from Memorial's SportsCare, stroke risk assessments by Memorial's Stroke Center, information on self-breast exams and skin cancer, electronic foot scans by the Springfield Running Center, and varicose vein screenings from Memorial Interventional Radiology Clinic.
For more information or a coupon for $1 off the admission price can be found at BeAwareWomensFair.com.