The Be Aware Women's Fair, hosted by Memorial Medical Center, will return to the Illinois State Fairgrounds for its ninth annual event on Saturday, Oct. 13. An estimated 2,000 people are expected to converge on the Orr Building for Memorial's Be Aware Women’s Fair, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A $5 admission covers all exhibits and health screenings; children 12 and younger receive free admission.
“Memorial’s Be Aware Women’s Fair allows women to take some much needed time for themselves,” said Tiffany Lowers, system director of patient experience for Memorial Health System and chair of the Be Aware Women’s Fair organizing committee. “Many of them are often juggling careers, taking care of elderly parents and taking charge of their families’ health care needs.”
More than 80 businesses and local organizations have been confirmed for the event. These exhibitors will cover topics such as apparel, education, finance, fitness, health and home life. A Kids’ Corner, sponsored by Memorial Child Care, will feature craft activities for different age levels of children.
More than 25 free health screenings at this year’s fair will include blood pressure, blood typing, cholesterol, aneurysms, blood sugar, spine health, anxiety and depression, kidney wellness, lung function, leg health consultations and migraines. Other health initiatives include stroke risk assessments by Memorial Stroke Center and bone density evaluations by Memorial Orthopedic Services.
Proceeds from Memorial’s Be Aware Women’s Fair support the Memorial Medical Center Foundation’s breast cancer patient assistance fund, which provides financial assistance to breast cancer patients for items or services that can help meet basic needs, decrease stress or improve the healing process, such as compression gloves, wigs or premade meals.
The three women chosen as this year’s “Super Survivors” will reveal their makeovers at noon. The women are breast cancer survivors whose cancer journeys have been an inspiration to others. They were chosen in a random drawing of nominations in July. This year’s honorees are Laura Beth Pemberton of Rochester, Tamiko Bilbro-Nicholson of Pawnee and Kim Hart of Edinburg.
The American Cancer Society will hold its annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk that same day at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. All registered walkers will receive free admission to Memorial’s Be Aware Women’s Fair. Registration for the walk begins at 8 a.m. at the Commodities Pavilion, just west of the Grandstand. An opening program begins at 9 a.m. at the pavilion, with the walk to follow through the Department of Natural Resources area. The closing ceremony will be held about 10:45 a.m. on the stage at the Be Aware Women’s Fair.
For more information, visit BeAwareWomensFair.com.
