FORT RUCKER, Ala. (June 7, 2012) -- While many men may be reluctant to go to the doctor, many of those same men readily visit the gym.
Because of this, the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Lyster Army Health Clinic health promotions and wellness center are taking the medicine to the men by hosting a Men's Health and Fitness Expo, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 14 at the Fort Rucker Physical Fitness Facility.
The expo will feature more than 100 door prizes, a variety of health vendors from the Fort Rucker area and demonstrations by Dothan's Wolfpack MMA, a martial arts training center. The event will also include a Ride and Drive event that allows attendees to test drive vehicles from local Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Honda dealerships, said Leigh Ann Dukes, MWR sponsorship manager.
"I think the Wolfpack demonstrations will be fun because MMA and the military just seem to fit together," she said, adding that the door prizes will include solid black sling backpacks.
"We just try to give the patrons here on post -- civilian, military or retiree -- an opportunity to see some of the options that the Wiregrass offers when it comes to medical facilities," she explained. "A lot of us can't go off post to attend the health fairs that the surrounding communities have."
Lyster representatives will be present to offer information on smoking cessation, weight control, nutrition, self-exams and more, said Jeff Atkins, licensed practical nurse and health promotions tech. They will also offer body mass index screening and blood pressure checks.
"We want to get awareness out about what men need to look for," he said. "The ladies are talked to constantly. From the time they hit puberty, the doctor is telling them they need this test and this test and this test, but the guys don't get that."
Atkins said he was hoping to help change that mindset so that men are better informed about their health and potential health problems.
"Physical fitness plays into all this," he said. "People today want to pop a pill, but they don't realize that exercise is free. It doesn't have to be that much. It can be a little bit, but that little bit can be the difference between being able to move around and breathe and not being able to."
"We wanted it to be in a venue that is more conducive to people who are health-conscious or fitness-conscious," Dukes said. "If they're working out on their lunch break, maybe they can walk through the booths. If they see a car they want to test drive, it's there too."
Atkins recommended men of all ages attend the expo, and encouraged fathers to bring their sons along.
"It's not just the older men. Young guys need to know, too," he said.
For more information on the health fair, call 598-5311.
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