Health news and events around the valley, Sept. 24-30, 2015

Three Square distributes food to families: About 300 families facing hunger in Las Vegas were given nutritious food at a Three Square Food Bank mobile food pantry distribution Sept. 17 sponsored by Amerigroup Nevada. Three Square provides food and support to four counties in Nevada and received a $5,000 gift from Amerigroup Nevada to help families in need and support mobile pantry outreach during Hunger Action Month.

Supherhero 5K results: More than $200,000 was raised for children with cancer at the recent 25th annual Superhero 5K with Chet Buchanan, a record for the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada. The event, at Exploration Peak Park in Mountain's Edge, also set records with more than 3,000 attendees, 2,300 race and walk participants, and 501 competitive 5K racers.

Nominations sought for health care awards: The Dr. Roy W. Martin fourth annual Inspired Excellence in Healthcare Awards are planned from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Four Seasons Hotel, 3960 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Nominations for physicians are being accepted at lasvegasheals.org/nominate.

Hospitals receive HealthInsight Quality Award: Seven Nevada hospitals were recognized for their high performance in quality care measures and patient satisfaction Sept. 10. Nonprofit HealthInsight presented the 2015 HealthInsight Quality Award to the recipients at the Nevada Hospital Association Annual Meeting in Incline Village. Recipients were selected for demonstrating high-quality health care and excellence in performance on a combination of publicly reported Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services quality of care measures and patients' perception of care measures. In the Las Vegas Valley, the recipients were MountainView Hospital and Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas and North Vista Hospital in North Las Vegas. Visit hospitalcompare.hhs.gov or medicare.gov and selecting Compare Hospitals in Your Area, or call 800-633-4227.

Health and fitness seminar planned: Health and fitness seminars were planned through September at Sun City Summerlin's Desert Vista Community Center, 10360 Sun City Blvd. The last seminar, Staying Ahead with Immunizations, is set for noon Sept. 24. Eric Van Meter, PharmD. from Safeway, is set to speak on what new vaccines are recommended, about travel and vaccination, and other advancements in the field.

Healthy Kids Festival planned: The fourth annual Healthy Kids Festival is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 26 at Paradise Park, 4775 McLeod Drive. Sponsored by University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's All 4 Kids Program and Clark County Parks and Recreation Department, the free event will provide young children and their families with information about healthy eating and healthy activity choices while raising awareness about childhood obesity issues. Parents and families can engage in a day of activities and healthy eating demonstrations, music and entertainment, games, sports exhibitions and sign-ups, dance, Zumba and more. Call 702-940-5437 or email all_4_kids@unce.unr.edu.

Fall health fair returning to flu and shot clinic: The 23rd annual Fall Health Fair & Flu Shot Clinic is planned from 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 26 at Sun City Summerlin's Desert Vista Community Center, 10360 Sun City Blvd. Participants can speak with local health and wellness businesses as they share information on services available to the community. Local hospitals, physical therapists, home health care agencies, government agencies that assist the elderly, balance specialists, chiropractors, diabetes educators, and numerous other companies and services are set to be on hand. Flu shots (regular and high dose available) and pneumonia shots (Pneumovax and Prevnar) are set to be provided from 8 a.m. to noon. Most insurances will be accepted. Vaccinations will be provided by the Pharmacy at Albertsons. Visit suncity-summerlin.com/AboutArea/scscai_home_about.html.

Las Vegas Sands to build 200,000 hygiene kits: The Las Vegas Sands Global Hygiene Build with Clean the World is planned from noon to 6 p.m. in three shifts Sept. 26 at Las Vegas Sands, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Volunteers and team members in Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Singapore and Macao are set to work around the clock and across the globe while getting much-needed hygiene supplies to people in need. Las Vegas Sands Corp. and international nonprofit Clean the World invite the Las Vegas community to join The Venetian and Palazzo team members in the effort to build 200,000 hygiene kits to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations worldwide. Volunteers can sign up for shifts during the following times: From noon to 2 p.m.; 2 to 4 p.m.; and 4 to 6 p.m. Interested community volunteers can sign up at vegasctw2015.eventbrite.com. Each kit includes soap — collected from Clean the World's hospitality partners, including LVS properties around the world, and then recycled through Clean the World's soap sanitation and processing equipment — shampoo, conditioner, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Visit sandscares.sands.com.

Walk4CMT: The Las Vegas Branch of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association recently announced that it is planning to hold a Walk4CMT at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 27 at Kellogg/Zaher Sports Complex, 7901 W. Washington Blvd. Visit firstgiving.com/CMTA/runwalkbikehike-4-cmt. For more information, contact Virginia Mamone at 702-343-3572 or virgie17@msn.com.

Art in the Afternoon set for Sept. 28: Art in the Afternoon, a program that fosters stimulating conversation, creative thinking and stimulates distant memories among individuals experiencing cognitive impairment and their caregivers, is free and open to anyone with memory loss. An RSVP is requested. The next event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Sept. 28. RSVP by emailing louruvosocialserv@ccf.org or calling 702-483-6055.

Walk with a Doc events planned: Free Walk with a Doc events are planned at 8 a.m. the third Thursday of the month at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Upcoming event topics are Oct. 15, Breast Health; Nov. 19, Eating Healthily; and Dec. 17, Coping with Psychiatry. Visit umcsn.com.

Healthy walking seminar planned: Tina Encheva, Realtor and continuing education UNLV teacher, is set to direct workshops on the Secrets of Natural Walking from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 18 at 3585 E. Flamingo Road, Suite 203. Email tinae@realtyonelv.com.

Valley Health System Offers $55 Mammogram Special in October: The Valley Health System is offering $55 screening mammograms weekdays in October. A physician's order is required and should be brought to the appointment. Results will be mailed to the insurance. Insurance will not be billed. Call 702-369-7710 to make an appointment at: Centennial Hills Hospital, 6900 N. Durango Drive; Spring Valley Hospital, 5400 S. Rainbow Blvd.; or Summerlin Hospital, 657 N. Town Center Drive.

Better Breathers Club plans meetings: The American Lung Association in Nevada invites those with lung health disease, their loved ones and caregivers to a Better Breathers Club meetings planned at the following locations and times each month:

Second Tuesdays, noon to 1 p.m. in the conference room at Centennial Hills Hospital; 702-835-9898.

Last Fridays, 3 to 4 p.m. at Prestige Care at Mira Loma, 2520 Wigwam Parkway; 702-431-6348.

First Thursdays, 1 to 2 p.m. at St. Rose Women's Care and Outreach Center, 2651 Paseo Verde Parkway; 702-616-4910.

First Wednesdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m., United in Hope: Lung Cancer Survivors Support Group, at Kindred Hospital Las Vegas, 2250 E. Flamingo Road; at 702-353-2039 or lysa71@cox.net.

Fibromyalgia group meets second, third Thursdays: The Fibromyalgia Friends Support Group of Southern Nevada is scheduled to meet during lunch and evening sessions the second and third Thursday of the month. Lunch meetings are set from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Fiesta Henderson buffet, 777 W. Lake Mead Parkway. Evening meetings are planned from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Barbara Greenspun Women's Care Center, 2651 Paseo Verde Parkway, Suite 180. Visit fmfriends.org.

Breast cancer empowerment group set to meet monthly: A free Breast Cancer Empowerment/Support Group is set to meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, 657 N. Town Center Drive. Topics vary and include guest speakers, resources and open discussion with the goal of helping to empower and support women. RSVP by calling 702-233-7155.

Free STD testing available: Free weekly STD screenings are available at the Gay and Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada and the Richard Steele Boxing Facility. Visit snhd.info/sexual-health-clinic.

Stroke support group planning monthly meetings: The Stroke Support Group is set to meet at various times monthly:

From 3 to 4 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, 657 N. Town Center Drive, 702-233-7061.

From 3 to 4 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at Centennial Hills Hospital, 6900 N. Durango Drive, 702-629-1309.

From 10 a.m. to noon the first Saturday of the month at the South Magna Conference Center, south of the Desert Springs Hospital main entrance, 2075 E. Flamingo Road, 702-369-7560. Recommended parking is off Bruce Street. Lunch is provided.

From 10 to 11:30 a.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month on the fourth floor of Valley Hospital, 620 Shadow Lane. Call 702-388-8441 or 702-388-4619. Light refreshments will be served.

Bloodmobile drives planned across valley: UBS Bloodmobile drives are planned at multiple times and locations around the valley. Call 702-233-9620 or visit unitedbloodservices.org and enter the code specific to the location, listed below.

The locations include:

From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at UNLV Circle K International, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Enter code unlv.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 26 at Whitney Ranch Recreation Center, 1575 Galleria Drive. Enter code whitneyranch.

From 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Enter code flamingolib.

From 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 27 at Dignity Health – St. Rose Siena Campus, 3001 St. Rose Parkway. Enter code strosesiena.

from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at UNLV Circle K International, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Enter code unlv.

American Red Cross blood drives scheduled around the valley: The American Red Cross encourages residents to donate. Blood drives are planned continually across the valley. All blood types are needed, especially O negative, A negative and B negative, on a regular basis. To schedule a donation appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. Additionally, the Red Cross and Sport Clips Haircuts are teaming up through September. Those who donate blood or platelets during the month will receive a free haircut coupon valid through Nov. 8.