Soroptimists continue battle against osteoporosis
Soroptimist International of Fayette County is continuing its efforts to fight osteoporosis through education and screenings. During a dinner meeting last week at the Uniontown Country Club, the organization distributed funds from its fourth annual 5K Osteoporosis Walk and Health Fair, held last May at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown.
Soroptimist International dispersed checks to local medical partners, who offer osteoporosis awareness programs, as well as the Sisters of St. Basil, who permit the use of Mount St. Macrina for the walk.
Lillian Cale, president, said, “We really appreciate the partnership with you. We know you give us credibility and it’s the energy of our members that makes it work.”
Pat Mowen, immediate past president, handed out the checks. The organization raised about $11,200 from this year’s walk. That adds to the approximately $40,000 the group raised in its first three walks.
“When we thought of this five years ago, we thought, ‘How is this going to fly?”‘ said Mowen.
This year’s walk, chaired by members Sally Bryan and Melody Filicky, included between 250 and 300 walkers, with Michelle Wright, news anchor from WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, as celebrity walker. The health fair, chaired by member Norma Snyder, grew from 10 participants in its first year to approximately 50 this year.
Mowen noted the results have been a credit to the local partners, membership and the community as well.
Soroptimist International sends a portion of the funds raised from this event to the National Osteoporosis Foundation for research, but the majority of the funds benefit the local community by offering free bone density screenings for the uninsured as well as awareness and educational programs throughout the year.
Mowen first distributed a check to Sister Barbara Swindells of Mount St. Macrina, noting, “We’re truly blessed to have Mount St. Macrina and the Sisters of St. Basil. If not for this ideal location, I don’t know how successful we’d have been.”
Swindells thanked the Soroptimists, noting, “I love being with you and God bless you all.”
Mowen presented another check to Sister Annette Frey of Rendu Services, who was accompanied by Sister Mary Francis Bassick.
Mowen said, “They have done phenomenal work with the underserved.”
Rendu visits communities throughout Fayette County to perform health screenings and distribute information. They include bone density screenings to check for osteoporosis.
Frey said, “It’s such a pleasure to know you and have your support.”
She said since last September, Rendu performed bone density screenings for 179 people. Of these, 12 were found to have osteoporosis and 63 people were in a high-risk group.
In addition, Soroptimist funds permitted Rendu to repair its machine and continue the screenings.
Mowen distributed funds to local doctors, noting, “If not for our medical partners, we would not see such success.”
Dr. David Sheba, who specializes in orthopedics, and Sue Spinuzza, clinical coordinator for the Center for Osteoporosis, represented Grandview Medical in Uniontown in accepting funding from the Soroptimists.
Sheba said, “You make it very easy to want to help and participate. It’s nice to see how this event has grown, particularly the health fair. The word is getting out.”
Spinuzza explained the money goes into a fund to help people who are uninsured pay for screenings, blood work and medication.
“They’re not used to that. They walk away struck with awe,” said Spinuzza.
Funding also provided for an educational program this past June as well as creation of a brochure.
Dr. John Sunyecz, who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, represented Laurel Highlands OB-GYN in Uniontown.
He said, “It’s very easy and very fun to work on this program.”
Sunyecz noted in the past year, his office has continued screenings for the uninsured and people who fall through the cracks. It also hosted an education program in December.
“We are also using social media to get the word out,” said Sunyecz, explaining his office created the Fayette County Bone Health Facebook page that includes information on health care as well as the Soroptimists’s annual 5-K Walk and Health Fair.
The page notes it is sponsored by Soroptimist International. A look at the blog section of the page shows articles on calcium supplements, vitamin D and menopause.
“It is the purpose of Fayette County Bone Health,” the page explains, “to provide men and women of Fayette County a resource for all things related to Bone Health+including osteoporosis, osteopenia, bone density screening, calcium, vitamin D and prescription treatments.”
The fifth snnual Soroptimist International 5-K Walk and Health Fair will be held May 14 at Mount St. Macrina.