Ottawa County Senior Health Fitness Day "Kick Off"

Riverview HealthCare Campus in collaboration with Ottawa County Senior Resources hosted their first ever, Senior Health and Wellness Fair on Wednesday May 28, 2008 to celebrate the 15th Annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day. Seniors from across the county were treated to various vendors and local healthcare providers featuring free screenings such as blood pressure, blood sugar, bone density testing, and derma scan.

Ottawa County Senior Resources and the Oak Harbor “Harbor Lights” Senior Center also provided a healthy lunch for the nearly 100 seniors who attended the event.

The event also ‘kicked-off’ Riverview’s own “Riverwalk”, a quarter-mile paved pathway near the river that is open to the public. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured two-time Track Olympiad Mamie Rallins and Senior Track Olympiad Dorothy Gackstetter, both residents of Ottawa County. They also led the inaugural lap signifying the official opening of “Riverwalk. ” “ We hope the seniors and the community will utilize the ‘Riverwalk’ for their fitness needs. It offers a safe space in which all individuals can enjoy the beauty of the Portage River and get the benefits of healthy exercise at the same time, “ stated Kendra German, Administrator for Riverview HealthCare Campus.

The highlight of the event was the landing of the LifeFlight helicopter just prior to the presentation from the Ottawa County Commissioners of the Proclamation designating Wednesday May 28, 2008 as Ottawa County Senior Health & Fitness Day. According to Dianne Martin Mortensen, Executive Coordinator for Senior Resources, “this event offers seniors the opportunity to take a look at their health habits. Often, Seniors tend to ignore fitness issues as they age. Having events like this one encourages them to make health and fitness a priority in their lives.”