Support for cancer patients and survivors and taking care of your own health will sport a gridiron theme Saturday when Chase County Community Hospital sponsors its annual Wellness Festival.
    The “Tackle Cancer” Walk gets underway with a program and prayer at 8 a.m. MT/9 a.m. CT in the bleachers at the Chase County Schools’ football field, with the walk starting at 8:30 a.m. Registration opens at 7:45 a.m. MT/8:45 a.m. CT.
    The “Defend Your Health” fair starts at 8:30 a.m. MT/9:30 a.m. CT with booths and screenings offered west of the swimming pool. Various vendors will be set up north of the football field/track. In all, about 20 booths and vendors are expected, providing information until 11 a.m. MT/12 noon CT.
    One of the day’s highlights will be the LifeNet helicopter which will be on site. Anyone who visits at least five of the information booths will be entered in a drawing for one of four free helicopter rides that day, said Shannon Kuhlmann, coordinator for the health fair and immunization clinic.
    At the exhibit building on the fairgrounds, people will also be able to receive influenza immunizations, Kuhlmann said. A drive-through option will be available for the disabled and elderly. The hospital is using the influenza clinic as a county-wide drill to give the hospital staff and residents a chance to practice large scale vaccinations in the event an epidemic of small pox or other disease were to break out, said  Kuhlmann.
    “If we had to vaccinate all of our residents in 24 hours, this is how it would be set up,” she said.

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