RESERVE — St. John the Baptist Parish Health & Human Services brought out more than 250 participants for Sept. 22’s Health and Wellness Event at REGALA Gym in Reserve.

The event was coordinated by Rhonda Lemons and included a number of local agencies and businesses providing services and consultations directed towards fitness, wellness and healthy lifestyles.

 Emergency responders from the Office of Fire Services challenged attendees with an exciting adult and children’s obstacle course.

At times, participants were competing against each other for fun while children and youth enjoyed tackling the course from start to finish.

“Many times, these great resources and services can sometimes be difficult to obtain for some of our residents so the Health and Wellness Event allowed an approachable and friendly way for people to connect and receive the services they need at no cost,” Lemons said.

“A sincere thank you to St. John Parish staff, Ochsner Medical Center and Teche Action Clinic for co-sponsoring the event, Dunkin Donuts and Smoothie King for their donations and members of Zeta Phi Beta and Delta Sigma Theta sororities for volunteering. Altogether, we made the event a very successful one.”

Staff members from the Teche Action Clinic were on site providing blood pressure, body mass index and glucose screenings. The LaPlace Walgreens team gave FLU vaccinations as the St. John Health Unit and Office of Public Health administered free HPV vaccines and HIV testing.

Various departments from Ochsner led lessons on smoking cessation and also were on hand to do cardiac ankle-brachia index (ABI) screening and counseling.

With a focus on women, infant and children, the Greater New Orleans YMCA provided instructions on car seat and seat belt safety using hands on demonstrations and guided tutorials.

Dr. Niquelle Lackings, a local licensed professional counselor taught meditation, stress management and diaphragmatic breathing lessons to attendees and offered various ways to “de-stress.” Sheriff Mike Tregre and his office were also on hand supporting the event and talking about self-defense and upcoming courses.

— Submitted by St. John Communications