Health Briefs (5/9)

Spinal decompression workshop

The Ahwatukee Spinal Aid Center is hosting a free spinal decompression workshop as a service to the community from 7 to 8 p.m. May 13 at the Ironwood Library, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd.

For more information, call (480) 704-1954.

American Diabetes Association awards

The American Diabetes Association, Arizona Chapter announced the winners of its Cure, Care and Commitment Awards April 26 at the 12th Annual Arizona Diabetes Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center.

The Cure Award recipients are:

- Dr. William C. Duckworth, director of diabetes research at the Carl T. Hayden, VA Medical Center in Phoenix.

- Dr. James V. Felicetta, chairman of the Department of Medicine at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix.

- Cindy Bochenski, BSN, CDE, diabetes educator at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.

Y-ME Walk to Empower

At 7:30 a.m. on Mother's Day, May 11, more than 1,600 walkers and volunteers will gather in Tempe Beach Park for Y-ME's Second Annual Walk to Empower, a three-mile non-competitive walk.

The event promises to inspire and empower all who attend, providing the perfect way to honor the survivors, commemorate personal diagnosis and remember those who are no longer with us. Walkers can raise funds in support of Y-ME's free-of-charge programs and services that are offered to all those touched by breast cancer.

Register today at www.y-me.org to walk or volunteer at the Walk to Empower. For more information, call (877) YME-7223, ext. 2730.

Play golf, support Breast Cancer 3-Day

Foothills residents Greg and Jennifer Hoffman will host a golf tournament May 31 at The Links at Queen Creek in support of breast cancer research.

Cost is $65 and 100 percent will be donated to the Breast Cancer 3-Day, a 60-mile walk held annually in November to raise awareness of breast cancer.

For more information, contact the Hoffmans at (480) 704-5281.

National Marrow Donor Program awareness campaign

Phoenix area residents have the opportunity to save a life May 5 to 19 during the National Marrow Donor Program's largest awareness campaign of the year.

There are several drives taking place across Phoenix during the "Thanks Mom" campaign:

- May 9: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Lindsay Road, 525 N. Lindsay Road, Gilbert

- May 13: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Greenfield Road, 4760 S. Greenfield Road, Gilbert

- May 14: 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. St. Joseph's Hospital (Marley Lobby), 350 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix

The initiative has an ambitious goal of recruiting 46,000 people to the registry and raising $100,000 in just two weeks.

Water safety Web site

Arizona's best-known water safety coalition launched a new Web site to serve members, media and the general public. The site, www.preventdrownings.org, features water safety events, tips, resources, statistics and highlights of local drowning prevention programs. 

East Valley public blood drives

United Blood Services new simplified donor interview has been slimmed down by almost 30 percent and is even shorter for donors who give at least every six months. Give blood in May and receive an exclusive thermal travel mug as a thank you.

Donate blood May 18 at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 16223 S. 48th St., from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or May 31 at Foothills Baptist Church, 15450 S. 21st St., from 7 a.m. to noon.

To make an appointment to donate blood, call 1-877-448-GIVE (4483) or visit www.UnitedBloodServicesAZ.org.

Phoenix Public Library hosts lecture on autism

Mesquite Library will host a free lecture on autism with Dr. Robin Krause Blitz, associate director of the Arizona Child Study Center at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, from 7 to 8:15 p.m., May 19, 4525 Paradise Village Parkway North.

For more information, call 602-262-4636 or visit www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org.

St. Joseph's offering cancer genetic risk assessments

The Comprehensive Cancer Center at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center is offering genetic risk assessments to Valley residents who have cancer or a family history of cancer. The initial consultation is free and a physician referral is not required. The risk assessments currently focus on breast, ovarian, colorectal and melanoma cancers.

To schedule a genetic risk assessment consultation at St. Joseph's Comprehensive Cancer Center, call (602) 406-6621.

CAMPFIT registration

CAMPFIT is a five-day, four-night live-in intervention program in Payson for overweight adolescents ages 7 to 17. The mission is to provide an educational opportunity to teach children and teens how to care for their health and happiness. The specialized interdisciplinary staff of the Child Obesity Center is an integral part of CAMPFIT and ensures parents this experience will be positive and life changing for the entire family.

Camp is July 29 to Aug. 2. Registration is $420. Call (602) 843-8333 or e-mail campfit@childobesitycenter.com to register.

Raising an Exceptional Child workshop

The Child Obesity Center of Arizona presents a Raising an Exceptional Child workshop series for parents with an overweight child. Curriculum for the workshop is accredited through the Pediatric Weight Management Program, the nations leading weight management program for children and teens.

The six-week workshop is packed with new information and strategies on how to raise a healthy child and will teach parents how to deal with feelings of guilt, fear and frustration about their child's weight.

Locations are: 13231 N. 35th Ave., Suite A10, in Phoenix, from 9 a.m. to noon; and 835 W. Warner Road in Chandler, from 2 to 5 p.m.

To register, call (602) 843-8333 or e-mail register@ChildObesityCenter.com.

Free registration with referral from doctor, $100 with no referral. Fee includes workbook, workshop materials and 18-hour workshop session.

Crohn's and Colitis support group

The East Valley Crohn's and Colitis Support Group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. every second Thursday of the month at the Desert Samaritan Medical Center, classroom 3D, on the third floor of the hospital.

Desert Samaritan is located at 1400 S. Dobson Road.

For more information, contact Lisa Shane at Lissha480@aol.com or visit www.ccfa.org/chapters/southwest.

Ahwatukee Jazzercise

Get into shape with Jazzercise Lite classes offered by Ahwatukee Foothills resident Cindy Schulze.

Classes are Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:30 a.m. at Ahwatukee Children's Theatre, and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9:30 a.m. at Center Pointe Dance.

ACT is located at 5051 E. Elliot Road. Center Pointe Dance is located at 12020 S. Warner-Elliot Loop, Suite 110.

For more information, contact Schulze at (602) 292-7521 or jazzisfun@cox.net.

CHW appointments for mammography services

Catholic Healthcare West's hospitals and urgent care centers is offering same- and next-day appointments for mammography services at four East Valley locations.

According to Apodaca, CHW's breast biopsy program employs minimally invasive techniques for stereotactic and ultrasound-guided biopsies, which are performed by a team of highly trained, board-certified radiologists. Both techniques are useful when there are suspicious changes on the mammogram that can also be seen on an ultrasound exam but no abnormality can be felt on breast self-examination or clinical examination by a physician.

For same or next-day appointment information, or to learn more about the facility's hours of operation, please call (480) 728-3900.

Lymphoma Research Foundation monthly meeting

The Arizona Chapter of the Lymphoma Research Foundation hosts free monthly meetings for lymphoma patients, their loved ones, health care professionals or anyone interested in supporting lymphoma awareness and education.

For additional information, e-mail Arizona@lymphoma.org or call Susan at (623) 266-4742.