Health Briefs (5/1)

Mental Health Awareness Month activities

Persons with disabilities, family and friends are invited to attend the Mental Health Awareness Month arts and crafts festival and candlelight celebration on May 1 at Art Awakenings, 1014 N. Second St.

The arts and crafts fair takes place 5 to 7 p.m., followed by the candlelight celebration from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Mental Health Awareness Coalition in partnership with PSA Art Awakenings.

For more information, call Melanie at (623) 217-3785.

Weight Loss Challenge gets under way May 1

A local area resident is ready to launch a 12-week, nonprofit course that offers tips on nutrition and exercise, along with the flair of competition.

Bridget is a personal wellness coach, heading up her own wellness team, "Decisions To A Better Lifestyle." The goal is for people to "feel good and look great" and maintain a healthier lifestyle. The cost to join is $29 for the 12-week program, and all money will be paid out in cash and prizes to the winners.

All participants can use any weight-loss program they like, whether it be Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers or a customized plan. All participants will weigh in and be measured each week, and the three with the highest percentage of weight loss at the end of the program will split the monies collected.

The Ahwatukee Area Weight Loss Challenge begins Thursday, May 1, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and classes will be held at 16015 S. 45th Place.

For more information or to pre-register, call Bridget at (480) 759-1695.

Children's Mental Health Awareness Day

Children with disabilities, family and friends are invited to attend Mental Health Awareness Family Fun Day, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at Tumbleweed Park, San Tan Mountain Pavilion, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler.

The event is sponsored by the Mental Health Awareness Coalition.

For more information, call Kim at (602) 692-1392.

Children's Heart Foundation hosting golf outing

The Children's Heart Foundation (CHF) will host its inaugural golf outing on Saturday, May 2, at The Legacy Golf Club Resort, 6808 S. 32nd St. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m.; lunch at 11 a.m.; clinic with club pro at 12:30 p.m.; shotgun start for golfers at 1 p.m.

The format is four-person scramble, best ball, and there will be a closest to the pin and longest drive contest, hole-in-one contests and other prizes. The event also includes dinner, an awards banquet, a silent auction.

The fun-filled golf tournament is for all golf enthusiasts to help raise funding for congenital heart defect research.

Entry fees are $300 per golfer, or $1,200 per foursome, and include green fee and cart, range balls, two drink tickets, lunch, clinic, dinner and awards banquet. The cost is $75 per person for dinner and cocktails only.

Registration is available online at www.childrensheartfoundation.org or by calling Brian Velez at (574) 333-9496.

Parkinson's disease exercise class

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center is offering an exercise class to people with Parkinson's disease from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. May 5, 12, 19 and 26 at Village Oaks Assisted Living, 1919 W. Carla Vista Drive, Chandler. Classes are designed to focus on the symptoms of the disease and can be performed at the seated level to meet the abilities of each individual. Wear comfortable clothes and socks.

The cost is $5 (cash or check), and pre-registration is required by calling (602) 406-6903.

Alzheimer's Inst. offers free seminars for caregivers

Banner Alzheimer's Institute will host free education seminars for caregivers from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, and 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, at Pyle Adult Center, 655 E. Southern Ave., Tempe.

If you are a caregiver for someone with a memory disorder or Alzheimer's disease and are in need of direction, consider attending the Caregivers of Memory-impaired Persons Acquiring Successful Strategies (COMPASS) class. Attendees will learn how to successfully navigate caregiving.

Reservations are required by calling (602) 239-6850. . For more information, visit www.banneralz.org.

Summer Spaaah Series returns May 17

The three-time sold out Summer Spaaah Series is once again offering up a dose of spas, fun and charity as it makes the rounds at eight top-notch spas every other weekend starting May 17 in support of Fresh Start Women's Foundation, a Phoenix-based organization that empowers women in need.

The events include mini spa treatments, health and wellness classes, beauty demos, boutique discounts, fitness sessions, raffles, refreshments, goodie bags and a chance to tour the hottest spa destinations Arizona has to offer.

Tickets on sale at SummerSpaAZ.com.

e-MedStick ready for launch

Larry Smith, founder and CEO of MedStick Corporation, has announced the rollout of the e-MedStick electronic medical records system for individuals.

Enclosed within a small USB drive, the portable device containing proprietary software is designed to provide instantaneous access to the owners emergency information and complete medical history from anywhere in the world, in multiple languages ... even if the owner cannot communicate.

For more information, call (480) 899-4463 or log on to www.healthmedstick.com.

GYT: Get Yourself Tested

Planned Parenthood Arizona is participating in a nationwide campaign with MTV and the Kaiser Family Foundation to officially unveil "GYT: Get Yourself Tested," a campaign to increase testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among those under 25 years of age. 

GYT kicks off with a mix of promotions on-air, online and in the real world that will unfold throughout April in recognition of National STD Awareness Month. The central hub of the campaign, GYT09.org, will provide comprehensive information about STDs and will direct users to the nearest testing location simply by entering a zip code. A mobile companion to GYT09.org, the GYT short code (49809), provides details about local testing locations to mobile phones by texting a ZIP code.

To make an appointment, call (602) 277-PLAN (7526).

For more information on the importance of getting yourself tested, visit www.ppaz.org.

Yoga classes for all levels

Certified yoga instructor Donna DiNunzio teaches yoga classes for all levels of experience from 8:45 to 10 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays through May in the Community Room at the Ahwatukee Fire Station, 4110 E. Chandler Blvd. The cost is by donation at the door.

For information, call (480) 330-2015.

Racing for Recovery offers support

A new Racing for Recovery support group meets 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays at Spinergy Cycling Studio, 12020 S. Warner-Elliot Loop, Suite 111.

Racing for Recovery offers support to anyone who has been affected by addiction - addict, family member or friend - and promotes health and fitness as a component of recovery.

For information, call Clay at (480) 252-9903, e-mail claylblair@gmail.com or visit www.racingforrecovery.com.

NexLev Wellness Center conducting headache study

NexLev Wellness Center, 4206 E. Chandler Blvd., is conducting a headache study, and the two-day process consists of one-hour sessions each day. Staff are looking to find possible causes that contribute to headaches.

For more information, call (480) 704-2107.

24-hour help hotline

The bilingual Helpline services are free of charge and are available 24 hours a day, everyday, including holidays by calling (602) 263-8856.

Specialists respond to calls from individuals seeking information or referrals to health care programs; emergency food, housing and clothing resources; drug or alcohol treatment programs; adult/child protective services; and marital and family counseling. All calls are confidential.

More information is available online at www.cir.org.

Crohn's & Colitis Support Group

The East Valley Crohn's & Colitis Support Group meets the second Thursday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. at Banner Desert Medical Center, Classroom 3D, 1400 S. Dobson Road, Mesa.

For information, e-mail Lisa Shane at Lissha480@aol.com.

Yin/Yang Yoga hiking retreat

Relax yourself with a worry-free trip to the Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Challenge yourself with a long hike while you take in the splendor of the canyon. Pamper and expand yourself with no driving, fine dining, entertainment, yoga classes and a rustic private cabin setting.

Donna DiNunzio (Joyful Yoga Studio) and Jeff Martens (Inner Vision Yoga) will provide transportation, trail guidance and yoga instruction during the retreat, which runs Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. The cost is $799 ($739 before May 15).

For more information, e-mail DiNunzio at dsdinunzio@yogaclarity.com or call (480) 330-2015.

Registration open for Walk to Empower 2009

A rewarding Mother's Day experience is just a few clicks away. Registration for the Walk to Empower at Tempe Beach Park on May 10 is now open.

The third annual Walk to Empower is a family-friendly three-mile non-competitive walk which benefits Breast Cancer Network of Strength (formerly known as Y-ME). Funds do not go toward research, but instead the Network of Strength provides immediate emotional relief through its 24/7 breast cancer support center for anyone affected by the disease.

Registering for the event gives participants a personal Web page to share pictures, post messages, send e-mails, track fundraising progress and thank donors.

The Mother's Day fundraiser for Breast Cancer Network of Strength will be held at Tempe Beach Park at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 10.

Information and registration is available at http://walk.networkofstrength.org or by calling 1-(877) 963-7223, ext. 2730.

Free Down syndrome seminar

Families and caretakers are invited to a free workshop to learn recent advances in medical treatment for children with Down syndrome. The seminar will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at the Phoenix Children's Hospital Main Campus, Rosenberg Children's Medical Plaza (Building E) - Melvin Cohen Conference Center, 1920 E. Cambridge Ave.

Enter the Phoenix Children's Hospital campus off 20th Street and Cambridge, two blocks south of Thomas Road. Free parking is available in the visitor parking garage.

Registration is available online at www.phoenixchildrens.com/calendar-of-events/down-syndrome-recent.html.

For more information, call Karen at (602) 546-3300.

Inner Vision Yoga offers Hawaiian retreat

Inner Vision Yoga is accepting deposits for Yoga in Hawaii, a yoga retreat to be held July 11 to 18 at the Kalani Oceanside Retreat Center. Co-owner Jeff Martens and longtime instructor Patricia Pagliuca will be your guides in the discovery of creativity and the pulse of lie that exists in all things, from leaf to ocean wave to your very fingertips.

For information on pricing, registration and accommodations, visit www.innervisionyoga.com.

Inner Vision Yoga is located in Chandler at Dobson and Ray roads and in Tempe at Guadalupe and Rural roads and offers over 80 yoga classes per week.

For more information, visit the Web site above or call (480) 632-7899.