May 2008

Durham College ready to host Healthy Athletes Expo

Special Olympians will have Durham College's enthusiastic support as they arrive on campus May 8 to 10 for the Healthy Athletes Expo.

Durham College will open its doors to Special Olympians from May 8 to 10, for a Healthy Athletes Expo that is designed to help Special Olympians improve their overall health and fitness, leading to an enhanced sports experience and improved well-being.

The expo comes three weeks in advance of the Special Olympics Ontario 2008 Spring Games in Durham Region. Six different free health tests will be offered throughout the expo including:

• Opening Eyes will test athletes' vision and provide eyeglasses and protective goggles as necessary;
• Special Smiles will teach the importance of oral health and provide mouth guards as necessary;
• FUNfitness will assess the athletes' general flexibility and provide simple exercise tools;
• Healthy Hearing will screen hearing acuity, create custom earplugs and make minor repairs to hearing aids;
• Fit Feet will examine the athletes' feet; and
• Health Promotion will promote and reinforce good nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices.

Volunteer health-care professionals including physicians, dentists, audiologists and podiatrists from across Canada, and students will provide screenings to the athletes in the college's state-of-the-art facilities and labs.

The Healthy Athletes Expo was funded in part through a donation by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.