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Displaying items by tag: health

Thursday, 28 February 2019 13:25

Saratoga Regional YMCA Kicks – Off Annual Fundraising Campaign

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Concluding the month of love and heart-healthy awareness, the Saratoga Regional YMCA (SRYMCA) kicks off this year’s “Be a Hero” campaign for their annual fundraiser.

The YMCA pre-school students welcomed attendees by singing the Barney and Friends theme song, “I love you.” This set the tone of the event, that emphasized how closely health, community, and love interconnect throughout Saratoga county’s YMCAs.

This year’s face of the “Be a Hero” campaign is Air Force veteran, Joe Miller. Miller was suffering from diabetes, losing his vision and his overall health was rapidly declining. During his six months stay at a Veteran’s shelter in Ballston Spa, he was referred to the YMCA’s financial assistance program.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes can lead to life-altering complications including kidney disease, heart disease, blindness, and strokes.

“A healthy lifestyle is your road map for managing diabetes, which is the key to preventing or delaying complications,” states CDC website.

Access to an affordable place to get on track with a healthy lifestyle made all the difference in Miller’s life.

“It (the SRYMCA) helps everybody. No matter who you are, no matter what your background is, your color, your creed, or where you come from this financial assistance program is there to help. You can’t beat that at all,” said Miller.

The YMCA pre-school, the pool and swim lessons and the LIVESTRONG program – which is designed to assist cancer survivors to improve their physical fitness – are just a few of the programs in addition to the financial assistance program that is funded by the annual campaign.

“We’re excited that we are able to provide the opportunity for the community not just to give to the Y, but really to give through the Y and make a difference,” said CEO Andrew Bobbit.

Sixty percent of the SRYMCA staff have donated to the fundraiser already. This year’s goal is to raise $400,000 to provide life-changing experiences that will better the community of Saratoga County.

Published in Sports

Thursday, 31 January 2019 10:40

A Week of Health and Wellness

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga County Chamber will kick off their 5th annual Health and Wellness week this Sunday, Feb.3.

To assist in achieving new year’s resolutions to become more active, participating fitness facilities will open their doors to the community. They will host workshops, training sessions and inform the community of all the people and services available to help them reach their health goals.

Modeled after the infamous “restaurant week,” the chamber’s health and wellness council introduced Health and Wellness week in 2014 to allow local fitness and health-related businesses and nonprofits to promote their health and wellness services.

The overall objective is “to encourage local people to try something new,” said Tom Shimkus, the Saratoga County Chamber President. Aside from the will to help guide the towns’ people to a fitter life, the Chamber has their own personal goal, “to make sure, through their (health businesses) efforts that Saratoga becomes one of the healthiest places to live and work,” said Shimkus.

According to the University of Wisconsin Population Institute’s annual county health ranking, Saratoga county was ranked #5 of healthiest counties in NY state when the health and wellness council began. In the years since Saratoga began their health and wellness week, they have moved up the ranks, even taking the number one spot one year. Saratoga Springs conveniently possesses natural healthy lifestyle traits including access to free spring water, it’s lake and state parks.

President Shimkus has one bit of advice for those attending this year’s Health and Wellness week, “invite a friend or family member or co-worker it increases the likelihood that you’re actually going to do it—and you help someone else out too.”

Published in Sports

Thursday, 30 July 2015 14:17

Swing of Fire Lights Up Gala

SARATOGA SPRINGS –With the top auction items priced at $55,000 and $35,000, this year’s auction at Saratoga Hospital’s 33^rd Annual Summer Gala features items with a higher value than any year prior. All proceeds benefit the services and programs at the Saratoga Community Health Center. The theme for this year’s gala is “Caddyshack” and it will be held Wednesday, August 5 at 6 p.m. at Polo Meadow at the Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Jim Sasko at Teakwood Builders has teamed up with six other companies to construct the Swing of Fire, a $35,000 outdoor space. It features three swinging benches surrounding a gas fire pit donated by Mohawk Heating Company. The Swing of Fire was designed by Balzer and Tuck, timber was donated by Legacy Limber and Frames with finishes by Winslow Painting. After installation, New Dimensions Outdoor Services makes sure the backyard is exquisitely landscaped . The Swing of Fire will be installed by a massive crane the Monday before the gala so it can be on display that night. The organizations collaborated in a concentrated effort to make the Swing of Fire an amazing backyard spectacle.

“We knew we wanted to build something that was going to be creative and mobile. It has to be able to be assembled on site and reassembled in new location. It’s been a lot of fun,” said Jim Sasko, of Teakwood Builders. “Putting it together is going great, it’s really cool. I hope it goes to a nice home where someone can enjoy it.”

A $55,000 Kentucky Derby experience also tops the auction list. Donated by Marylou Whitney and her husband John, six guests will be flown in a private jet to Louisville for the 2016 Kentucky Derby where they will sit in the famous Whitney Box on the finish line. Guests will also receive VIP transportation from the airport to Churchill Downs. Dinner and champagne will be served on the ride home.

The gala starts at 6 p.m. with the auction beginning at 7 p.m. For dinner, guests will enjoy locally grown food prepared by Executive Chef Steve Nash, signature cocktails and open bar, plus dessert.

For tickets please visit http://saratogahospital.org/services/events/the-summer-gala-2/

Published in News

Friday, 18 July 2014 09:37

Equestrian/Philanthropist Victoria McCullough and Team Valor’s Barry Irwin to be honored at Equine Advocates’ Thirteenth Annual Awards Dinner & Charity Auction

CHATHAM – Victoria McCullough, international equestrian, philanthropist and the owner of Chesapeake Petroleum and Team Valor’s Barry Irwin, owner of 2011 Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom, will be honored at Equine Advocates’ Thirteenth Annual Awards Dinner & Charity Auction on Friday, July 25. The event will be held at Fasig-Tipton in Saratoga Springs.

Ms. McCullough will receive the Safe Home Equine Protection Award for her work to end the slaughter of America’s horses. Her meetings with Vice President Joe Biden and other members of the Executive Branch led to Vice President Biden adding language defunding horse slaughter in the United States to the 2014 Omnibus Bill which President Obama signed on January 17.

“If anyone deserves to be honored for outstanding achievements to protect horses, it is Victoria McCullough,” said Equine Advocates President, Susan Wagner. “She has accomplished what no one has ever done by gaining the support of the administration against horse slaughter which is opposed by the vast majority of Americans. Victoria gathered the science and the facts to prove how slaughtering horses for food is unethical because it is toxic and a serious threat to human health and food safety. Thanks to Victoria’s continuing dedication and generosity I believe we are now on our way to reaching the ultimate goal of a permanent federal ban of horse slaughter.”

Barry Irwin will receive the Ellen and Herbert Moelis Equine Savior Award for his work to ban the use of performance-enhancing drugs in racehorses on race day. He has been one of the most outspoken and eloquent voices in the nation calling for the end of this practice in horse racing.

“Barry Irwin has been a positive force in our industry for many years,” said Ellen and Herb Moelis in a joint statement. “Team Valor, which Barry founded, has been at the pinnacle of our industry. He has managed the career of one of the most interesting horses of our time – Animal Kingdom. His passion for the integrity of our sport has been exemplary. We are proud that Barry will be the recipient of the 2014 Moelis Equine Savior Award by Equine Advocates.” The Moelis’s co-founded the Thoroughbred Charities of America with the late Allaire du Pont and were honored by Equine Advocates in 2002 for their strong support of equine rescue.

General tickets are $250 per person and include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, live and silent auctions and dancing. For more information, call (518) 245-1599. All proceeds from this event will benefit Equine Advocates Horse Rescue, Sanctuary and Humane Education programs.

Equine Advocates – P.O. Box 354 – Chatham, NY 12037

www.equineadvocates.org – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News

Friday, 13 September 2013 10:55

Costume Drive Takes Spook Out of Spending for Struggling Families

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Halloween just got a little less scary for struggling parents who feared the cost of buying a new costume for their little monsters.

Published in News