McLaren Northern Michigan, the regional health care provider for 22 northern Michigan counties, is bringing its Children’s Health Fair back for a 31st year.
Parents and children of all ages are welcome to Petoskey Middle School on Sat., April 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the free, fun, and healthy-focused event.
“This has been a longstanding tradition for many northern Michigan families, and one we are very happy to organize,” said Gar Atchison, McLaren Northern Michigan President and CEO. “It is a pillar of our organization to be community-focused, and it is a commitment we take passionately. We are very excited for this year’s event and the opportunity to engage with local families for the benefit of all.”
The hospital reestablished its annual fair last year, again organizing the longstanding event following a break during the pandemic.
The event is highlighted by the fun, family-centric environment, but also supports an atmosphere that will impart parents with best practices in order to keep their children safe and healthy while they maintain active childhoods. Lunch is provided at no cost, and many of the events, including the Super Hero Fun Run, incorporate participation from both parent and child.
Several McLaren Northern Michigan care services will be in attendance to share knowledge with parents and kids alike: pediatric physical therapy, stroke program, emergency and trauma medicine, obstetrics, pediatrics, orthopedic, and sports medicine.
A petting zoo, prize drawings, various crafts, and other hands-on entertainment are featured at the live music-enhanced event, as well as first responder vehicles from the Coast Guard and local EMS and police departments for families to explore and learn more about. Car seat fittings will also be offered for families with small children.
Also generously volunteering their time will be representatives from various local agencies, including:
Petoskey District Library, Zion Lutheran Preschool, Petoskey Pediatric Dentistry, Char/Em ISD, NMCAA Head Start and Early Head Start, Compass After School Program, Crooked Tree Wellness Clinic, Health Department of Northwest Michigan, North Central Michigan Student Nurse Association, North Central Michigan College, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Fry Integrative Orthodontics, Grain Train, Remedies in Rhythm, CoveYou Scenic Farm, North Country Community Mental Health, Concord Academy Petoskey, Char/Em DHHS, Petoskey CAPE Council, Pregnancy Care Center of Petoskey – Safe Kids Northern Michigan, Petoskey Youth Soccer Association, Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, and Alcona Health Center.
Petoskey Middle School is located at 801 Northmen Drive, near East Mitchell Road and South Division Road.
More information on the 31st Annual Children’s Health Fair can be obtained by calling (231) 487-3115.
About McLaren Northern Michigan
McLaren Northern Michigan is a 202-bed regional referral center located in Petoskey, serving residents in 22 counties across northern Lower Michigan and the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula. More than 230 physicians represent nearly all medical and surgical specialties, enabling full-service care with an emphasis on cardiology, cancer, orthopedics and neurosciences. McLaren Northern Michigan is a certified Primary Stroke Center, as designated by the Joint Commission. The hospital has a network of primary care providers and specialty care clinics throughout the region, and an outpatient surgery center in Cheboygan. Learn more at mclaren.org/northernmichigan.
About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, is a $7.3 billion, fully integrated health care delivery system committed to quality, evidence-based patient care and cost efficiency. The McLaren system includes 12 hospitals in Michigan, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 640-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 732,838 lives in Michigan and Indiana, home health, infusion and hospice providers, pharmacy services, a clinical laboratory network and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. McLaren has 28,000 full-, part-time and contracted employees and more than 113,000 network providers throughout Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Learn more at mclaren.org.