Thursday's Internet Edition, May 15, 2008.
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“Admission is free, but we do ask that you bring canned food, which will be donated to Cooperative Community Ministry,” said Billy Freeman, director of Thomasville Parks and Recreation Department. “We’ll have games like last year — a lot of inflatables and different things for the kids. We’ll also have a number of tables with health related entities, such as Thomasville Medical Center.
Thomasville Medical Center, like it was last year, is one of the sponsors for the event. So are the Thomasville Coalition of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Tom A. Finch Community YMCA, Rich Fork Baptist Church, Mount Zion West End Church and NewBridge Bank.
“We’ll have a mini-health fair,” said Mary Jane Akerman, health and wellness director for Thomasville City Schools. “People will be able to get their blood pressure, blood sugar and other things checked by people from Thomasville Medical Center at no charge. Other health-related agencies will have information booths there — anything to do with families, fitness or health.”
Akerman said there were still some tables available and anyone interested in operating a table to promote their appropriate service or product is welcome to call her at 474-4200.
“There will be a lot of activities for families with children,” she continued. “Last year we had 2,000 people attend and this year we expect to do even better.”
A lot of people, Freeman said, came last year to see and hear NewSong. Like that group, Building 429 has a strong following throughout the state.
“The reason we’re doing this is to encourage families to participate in healthy activities together,” Akerman said. “That’s a reason why the Thomasville Coalition on Alcohol and Drugs, a United Way Agency, is sponsoring this. We’re about helping make families make healthy decisions, including staying away from alcohol and drugs.”
Concessions will be available at prices that are “very reasonable,” according to Akerman.
“Everything that we will be selling will fall into the heath category, such as low-fat hot dogs and low-fat dessert items,” she said.”
With Building 429 as their concert draw this year, Akerman and Freeman plan to build on their success from the original Fit & Fun Fair.
“Everything turned out last year as well as we could hope,” Akerman said. “This year we’re going to be doing more of the same. We’ll have more entertainment at the concert, including some local groups, and more agencies set up at the information tables.”
Freeman said the Finch YMCA will be conducting a coloring contest for the younger children while the concert is going on.
The event last year was the grand opening of the Move More Thomasville fitness program. The activities of that upcoming Saturday will obviously provide an opportunity for participants to get some exercise hours in and for new people to sign up for this program at the Parks and Recreation table.
“We got a great response for Move More Thomasville last year, so we’ll be kicking that off again this year,” Akerman said. “We encourage all the participants to come out and spend the day running around the field.”
Staff Writer Kevin Reid can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 230, or at reid@tvilletimes.com