"Walk in the Park" Diabetes Walk & Screenings

A free Walk in the Park Diabetes Walk has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31 (Halloween Day) at 8 a.m. at Lon C. Hill / Fair Park, 1402 Fair Park Blvd. in Harlingen.

Free blood sugar testing, along with registration, will begin at 7 a.m. that morning. At the walk, participants can choose to walk 1.2 miles, 2.4 miles or three miles. T-shirts will be given to the first 300 registered walkers (including children). Walkers will also receive a free hemoglobin A1c test for diabetes from the Valley Baptist Community Reference Lab.

In addition, there will be free flu shots for the first 200 participants; free foot screenings by Valley Baptist Wound Care; blood pressure checks; a body composition (BMI) screening by the Valley Baptist Surgical and Medical Weight Loss Program; and healthy snacks. In addition, participants at the event can ask questions to a doctor with the Valley Baptist Family Practice Residency Program, ask a pharmacist about medications, and / or talk with a dietitian from Aramark Healthcare about healthy eating.

There will also be screenings and / or health information available from the Valley Baptist Stroke Program, Valley Baptist Cardiovascular Care, the Valley Baptist Health & Fitness Center, the Rio Grande Valley Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; and the High School for Medical Technologies; as well as information on health insurance and organ donation.