Improving the quality of health and overall wellness for local residents is the goal of health fairs being presented by Middlesboro ARH.

One of the first health fairs was offered Tuesday at the Middlesboro Mall for people who meet at the mall to walk either once a week, twice a week, or more.

“Mall walkers are very important to this community,” said Phyllis Danza, a nurse at Middlesboro ARH Home Health Services. “They represent people that are serious about maintaining their health and wellness and trying to manage high blood pressure, heart disease and sugar diabetes as well.”

The health fair consisted of a presentation on the benefits of walking and how it impacts a person’s overall health and wellness.

“We are doing blood pressures, heart rates, finger sticks, and just basic health and wellness help,” Danza said.

Danza said that exercise impacts all of those health issues, and it helps to reduce some of those risk factors that could occur.

A drawing was held for those in attendance for a $50 gift card to a store in the Middlesboro Mall.

Danza said they hope to offer health fairs more often to help local residents become better focused on their overall health and wellness goals.