Plans are shaping up for the annual wellness fair in association with the Prediction Walk/Run on Oct. 24.
To date 16 exhibitors have signed up for the wellness fair, with time still remaining for additional businesses or organizations to come on board.
At this point, registered exhibitors include Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, ENI-Employee Assistance Program, Hospice and Palliative Care of the St. Lawrence Valley, Key Bank, Local Living Venture, NCPPC Insurance Programs, Seaway Valley Prevention Council (Reality Check of St. Lawrence County), United Helpers Physical Therapy, PIYO with Angela Burke, It Works! Global, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Kinney Drugs, UnitedHelpers RiverLedge Wellness Committee, St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union and Norwe/Janberry.
In addition to a wide variety of exhibitors with information about their products and services, Kinney Drugs will be hosting a flu, pneumonia and shingles vaccination clinic. People interested in receiving vaccines at this event are asked to bring their insurance cards.
CANTON - A film based on the best-selling series of children's horror novels by R.L. Stine will be this year's Employee Activity Team's Family Movie Matinee. "Goosebumps," starring Jack Black will be released nation-wide on Oct. 16. On Oct. 17, employees of United Helpers and up to two guests will be able to watch the movie free of charge at The American Movie Theater in Canton. Additional guests will be $5 each. New to this year's event will be a children's costume contest. Snacks and soft drinks will also be provided. To RSVP, email bofairchild@unitedhelpers.org and include the number of people attending.
A six-foot, fall-themed tree donated by RiverLedge Assistant Administrator Stacey Canizzo is being raffled off to raise funds in conjunction with the 2015 Prediction Walk/Run.
In addition to a variety of fall-themed decorations, the tree is also adorned with more than $50 in New York Lottery instant scratch-off tickets that were donated by various employees from the United Helpers organization.
The tree will be on display at RiverLedge with tickets available at RiverLedge, Maplewood and the United Helpers Management Building starting on Oct. 1. Tickets will be $1 a piece, 6 for $5 or 13 for $10.
The tree will also be displayed on Oct. 24 during the annual Prediction Walk/Run and Wellness Fair at SUNY Canton. The drawing will be held that day. You do not need to be present to win.
It's not unusual for us to receive notes or letters from patients or clients thanking us for the impact United Helpers has had in their life.
Usually the notes will say something to the effect of, "thanks for helping me get back on my feet" or "thanks for helping me come home once again," but last week we received a note from a patient thanking us for something much deeper.
Those words follow...
"To the Maplewood Therapy Team
I would like you to know that you really did put hope back in my life. There is nothing more disorienting than the vertigo I was suffering from. Your healing touch truly added stability to my life. I can look through the window and the world is not spinning."
The note was also accompanied by the following poem...
Pictured are some of the runners/walkers from the 1st annual Run/Walk in 2011
The Society of the United Helpers Oktoberfest "Costumed" Prediction Run/Walk event is scheduled for Oct. 24 at SUNY Canton with registration at 9 a.m.
Walkers will begin at 10 a.m. with runners taking off at 10:30 a.m.
Participants are encouraged to wear a costume. The participation fee is $20 or
a minimum of $20 in pledges. Those collecting $50 in pledges will receive a free
moisture wicking event long-sleeved shirt.
In addition to the Run/Walk, the United Helpers Wellness Committee and SUNY Canton EAP will host a Wellness Fair from 9:00 am to 11:00 am inside Dana Hall. Wellness Fair participants include Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, ENI-EAP (Employee
Assistance Program), Hospice & Palliative Care of the St. Lawrence Valley,
Key Bank, NCPPC (North Country Prenatal Perinatal Council Insurance Programs),
Seaway Valley Prevention Council (Reality Check of St. Lawrence County), United
Helpers Physical Therapy and PIYO with Angela Burke.
For more information about the Run/Walk or Wellness Fair, contact the United Helpers Management Company at (315) 393-3074.
HEUVELTON
– After missing much of last year’s soccer, all of cheerleading and the
majority of softball season Heuvelton’s Sydney Thornhill is back on the field
following physical therapy at United Helpers RiverLedge Campus in Ogdensburg.
Ms.
Thornhill was injured last fall during a soccer game, suffering from a torn
meniscus that required surgery.
“I fell
on it wrong and I knew right then something had happened,” she said. “After the
surgery they told me it was worse than they expected it to be, so they said the
recovery time was going to be six months.”
However,
Ms. Thornhill was back on her feet and cleared to again compete after just four
months, returning in time for the end of softball season.
United
Helpers Physical Therapy Assistant Joseph R. Longshore said that was the goal
heading into therapy.
“We
wanted to get her back to playing softball, soccer and cheerleading,” he said.
When
asked to describe her therapy, Ms. Thornhill said it wasn’t easy, but at the
same time it was fun and just what she needed.
“Brett
(Physical Therapist Brett C. Amo) and Joe really worked me hard, but it was fun
while we did it,” she said. “They got my confidence up and helped me build up
the muscle in my legs so I would be ready to come back.”
Now
that fall sports have started including, soccer, football, volleyball, cross
country and swimming, Mr. Longshore said the need for physical therapy amongst
the area’s youth is sure to increase.
“Sports
specific injuries are certainly prevalent this time of year,” he said. “We try
to create protocols that are sport specific and get people back to playing the
sports safely that they enjoy.”
As
patients begin their therapy, Mr. Longshore said the therapists and assistants
become cheerleaders themselves.
“At
some point during the therapy after the therapist has set up the protocol we
become cheerleaders,” he said. “We cheerlead and create enthusiasm with the
clients.”
Mr.
Longshore said those protocols include one on one attention that patients may
not always find everywhere else.
“At
United Helpers we have the ability to work one on one with the patients,” he
said. “It’s very rare that we see more than one patient at a time and that’s a
great thing to be able to provide personal care.”
For more
information on therapy services at United Helpers, contact RiverLedge in
Ogdensburg at (315) 393-0730 or Maplewood in Canton at (315) 386-4541.
