Health Briefs (4/23)

Walk Like MADD 5K

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will host Walk Like MADD 5K, with the call to action, "Let's Eliminate Drunk Driving," as its signature fundraiser walk at 7:40 a.m. April 26 at the Phoenix Zoo. The walk, held each year in more than 30 cities nationwide, was formerly called Strides for Change.

Activities include face painting, arts and crafts, tours of police vehicles, music, ignition interlock demonstrations and more.

Those interested in participating, or becoming a virtual walker can visit www.walklikemadd.org.

Craniofacial Foundation fundraiser

The Craniofacial Foundation of Arizona is hosting its seventh annual fundraising event and silent auction "A Night on Broadway" from 6:30 to 11 p.m. April 26 at the Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main St., in Scottsdale. Proceeds benefit children living with craniofacial disorders.

Admission is $135 per person, and dress for the event will be cocktail attire.

For more information, contact Mary Garrett at (602) 432-2010.

Blood cancer seminar

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will host a parent progress seminar, The Path to Progress: Clinical Trials in Blood Cancer, April 27 at 2 p.m. at the East Valley Regional Cancer Center, Chandler Regional Hospital, 1875 W. Frye Road.

Topics covered include: how new drugs are discovered, researched and approved for treatment, distinguishing fact from fiction when it comes to clinical trials, how to talk to your doctor about clinical trials as a possible treatment option, recent and ongoing advances in the treatment of blood cancers and how to locate clinical trials that may be right for you.

Pre-registration required. For more information, or to register, contact Victor Carrasco, Patient Services Manager, at (602) 788-8622, ext. 13.

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.

Free cardiac screening test

The Anthony Bates Foundation and Parent Heart Watch will offer free cardiac screening tests from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 3 at Bourgade Catholic High School, 4602 N. 31st Ave. in Phoenix.

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.

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.

Blood cancer patient education

Chandler Regional Medical Center is co-hosting a free seminar with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society from 2 to 4 p.m. April 27 in the Cancer Center, 1875 W. Frye Road in Chandler.

Dr. Raoul Tibes, a physician-scientist with a joint appointment at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and TGen Research Services, will lead the discussion.

The talk will cover topics such as how new drugs are discovered, researched and approved for treatment; how to distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to clinical trials and the recent and ongoing advances in the treatment of blood cancer.

Pre-registration is required. Complimentary refreshments will be served. For more information or to register for the program, call Victor Carrasco at (602) 788-8622, ext. 13.  

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.

This is it

A weekly workshop based on Eckhart Tolle's book A New Earth will be held Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at 3920 S. Rural Road, Suite 110, in conjunction with Oprah's 10-week Internet series about the book and spiritual awakening.

For more information, or to register, e-mail jrwnow@gmail.com.

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.

Send submissions to cfrayer@ahwatukee.com.