Health was front and center in the community of the Valley this past Friday, September 12, when the Anglican Church Women of St. George's Church sponsored its first Valley Heath Fair, held in the parish hall of historic church on Montrose Avenue.

"This is one of the many new things that we are attempting to bring forward in our ministry" said Collonna Hepburn, President of the Church's ACW. "The Health of our people is a continuous concern of ours as leaders and people of God, therefore we thought we would provide an opportunity for our people to see, hear and touch pertinent information on their health."

Members of the parish, and people from the surrounding community of Culmersville, Mt. Royal and Montrose Avenues began converging on the church's parish hall just after 6:00 PM when the heath fair was officially underway. More than twenty exhibits were set up manned by professional doctors, dentists, massage therapists, counselors, insurance providers and suppliers of nutritional foods, soup and water.

"This is the most interesting fair that I have attended in quite sometime," said Harriett Ingraham, an alto in the Church's choir, just after having her blood pressure checked by Dr. Darren Donaldson, himself a member of the St. George's Church. "There are so many interesting displays with information that is necessary for our everyday living."

"Our responses were such that we had to turn down a few of the last minute exhibitors", said Godfrey Arthur, President of the Anglican Church Men, and a member of the planning committee. "Even though we ended up having to have exhibitors use the second floor of our parish hall facility, they were not removed from the general feel of the event. "In fact," said Thomas Lowe, a young high school graduate and member of the church, "the action was all on the 2nd floor where we had a most interesting conversation from the Drug Action task force took advantage of the Doctors hospital and their Massage therapists and sampled healthy food as displayed by Thompson Trading Company"

"To say that we are pleased with this event would be an understatement," said Fr. Kingsley Knowles, Rector of the St. George's. "The church's mission is about caring for the whole man, spiritual and otherwise, and this avenue shows that we are serious about reaching our people where they are, here in the community of the Valley and beyond."

As the three-hour event drew to a close, a beaming president of the ACW remarked, "We've had hundreds of people pass through the health fair picking up brochures, complimentary gift packs and samples to assist them to live healthy and longer lives. This was the point of the health fair and we believe that we have met that goal."

Exhibitors at the event included Bahamas Family Planning Association; National Drug Council; HIV/AIDS Council; Family Dentistry; Bahamas Heart Association; Woman's Heath Organization; D'Albenas Agency; Nassau Agencies; Doctors Hospital Rehabilitation Center; Thompson Trading Company; Bahamas Health; Cancer Society of The Bahamas; Island Wholesale; Lightbourne Trading; The Food and Nutrition Unit of the Department of Public Health; Lowes Wholesale Company and individual stations by Dr. Cy Pierre, Dr. Darren Donaldson, Ms, Debbie Parker and Charlotte Thompson, members of the ACW who took Cholesterol and high Blood Pressure tests.

"Those who missed the Heath Fair missed a great event," said Fr. Knowles to members of his congregation during the Sunday services following the Fair. "Our congratulations go out to the ACW and members of the coordinating committee, including the men of our parish, and we look forward to this being an annual event on the church's calendar.