Tag Archive for: #hendersonymca

The Local Skinny! Relay For Life To Take Place September 30th

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The Vance County Relay for Life is resuming its efforts after several years of reduced activity because of pandemic restrictions. The entire community is invited to the Henderson Family YMCA on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to participate, honor and remember.

Freddie Harris and Donald Matthews shared details about the event on Wednesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

“I believe this will be great start for Relay for Life coming back to Vance County, said Harris, one of the organizers from St. James Missionary Baptist Church that is sponsoring the event. There will be an opening ceremony and luminaria lining the track, with lots of activities in between.

The theme is Uniting in Hope, Empowering Together, she said. The main word is hope, Harris said.

Hope is the key word, Harris said. “I’m hoping that hope will inspire people and that people will feel hopeful from this event,” she said.
“Not just cancer survivors, but the city and the county. We really need to come together.”

Donald Matthews remembers the Relay events of some years ago when thousands of people would gather to participate. He was in charge of logistics, and it was challenging to organize 75 or more teams and have them in the right place at the right time.

There are currently nine teams signed up to participate, but the event can accommodate more.

The event is open to the whole community, and Matthews invites other churches, businesses and individuals to take part.

“Just because COVID stopped (us), cancer didn’t stop,” he said. “Our goal is, one day, to work ourselves out of a job. I’d like to see (cancer) eradicated, if I’ve got anything to do with it,” he said.

Harris invites the community to come out and show support for cancer survivors.

Cancer survivors like herself, a two-time cancer survivor.

“We want everybody to come out and be a part of it,” she said.

To register a team, call the American Cancer Society at 800.227.2345 or visit https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?pg=entry&fr_id=105850  to find out more, make a donation or purchase a luminary.

Luminary bags are $10 each, 3 for $25 or $25 for one gold luminary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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YMCA

The Local Skinny! West End Community Watch Hears Latest YMCA Plans

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Paul Ross, director of the Henderson Family YMCA, spoke to the West End Community Watch and shared expansion plans for what is shaping up to be a bright future for the Ruin Creek Road facility.

Henderson is the smallest city in the state to have a full-service YMCA, Ross told the group at the monthly meeting. The Y now owns 10 acres, having purchased the former county-owned Department of Social Services building, thanks to a generous $1 million donation from Dr. Khanh Vu and wife Elmira Choopani.

Plans are underway to create a “new and improved Y,” which include enlarging the walking track and playing field and building a new swimming pool.

Ross said the old DSS building will be torn down, but when the work is completed, the Y will either have a new or an updated Wellness Building. Ross said the plan is to be able to remain open during all the construction.

About 4,000 members currently enjoy all the programs and benefits the Y offers, but Ross said he projects that number will double once the new Y is finished.

The Y offers a wide variety of activities and classes, including diabetes prevention,drowning prevention for every second-grader in the county, pickle ball, lap swimming, water aerobics and other water activities, Silver Sneakers’ classes, child care, after-school program, a summer youth program as well as access to exercise equipment.
Want to learn more about membership in the Henderson Family YMCA? Simply stop in and discuss different options, including a variety of financial plans. Or visit the website, https://www.hendersonymca.org/

Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon is scheduled to speak at the April 18 meeting of West End Community Watch. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall of West End Baptist Church.

 

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The Local Skinny! Skipper’s BBQ Recognized by Chamber

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Allen Ellis, the great-grandson of Skipper is the 4th generation family manager/owner.

Listen in. The Local Skinny! Skipper’s BBQ Recognized by Chamber; More on donation to YMCA.

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Area Schools Participate In National Program Focused On Reducing Social Isolation

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School cafeterias usually are abuzz with activity at lunch time – there’s usually a lot of chatter as students take a few minutes to decompress from the rigors of the classroom. But cafeterias also can be a place where students can experience social isolation. Conjure up an image of a student eating alone in a cafeteria and you get the picture.

In an effort to raise awareness about the negative effect social isolation can have on young people’s mental health – and academic performance – WellCare of North Carolina is bringing No One Eats Alone Day to a couple of area schools.

Clarke Elementary in Henderson was scheduled to participate today (Friday, Mar. 4) and G.C. Hawley Middle School in Creedmoor is slated to participate on Mar. 10, according to information from WellCare. Henderson YMCA will be the third site in the area to participate, scheduled for Mar. 24.

Billed as “a positive prevention initiative designed to promote inclusion and a culture of belonging in middle schools,” No One Eats Alone Day was created by the nonprofit Beyond Differences.

According to a press statement, students “will learn about social isolation and the negative impact it can have on mental health and academic performance, while also being encouraged to create new friendships. Mental health is especially important now as students experience the growing stressors due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its social isolation effects.”

The area schools and the YMCA join thousands of schools across the country that will celebrate No One Eats Alone Day. The initiative will reach more than a million students in all 50 U.S. states. No One Eats Alone Day is sponsored by the Centene Charitable Foundation.

WellCare of North Carolina provides government-sponsored managed care services to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex needs primarily through Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans across the state. WellCare of North Carolina is one of the state’s Medicaid Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs). Visit www.wellcare.com/nc to learn more.

Vance County NC

Brick Power Team Supports ‘Rae Rae’ Owen, Local Child Battling Leukemia

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Henderson City Councilwoman Sara Coffey helped organize a bench press contest at the YMCA, which was held this past weekend to benefit Raegan “Rae Rae” Owen and family.  Rae Rae is a 10-year-old young lady in our community, and she was recently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and is receiving treatment at this time. Her parents are Randy and Debbie Owen.

Coffey told WIZS News:

“We had a good turnout. We’re very thankful and appreciative of everyone. Tyler Pegram was our overall winner with 460 lbs. We had about 60 people from four different churches that came out in support of the cause. We raised around $900, not including gift certificates that still will be given from different restaurants. I presented [to] Randy for Rae Rae an autographed poster from Brooke Mills Simpson and two of Rae Rae’s family’s favorite photographs of her on canvas. It was a very emotional time for all of us, especially Randy, as I made the presentation.”

“We continue to thank our Brick Power Team for all their dedication and hard work.”

“My team will continue to support this family by attending other fundraisers as active participants. Rae Rae will start her 4th round of treatments this week. She is the strongest child I’ve ever known and continues to bless and encourage others by her  strength and strong will.”

Randy Owen told WIZS News that this next round of chemo is expected to last around 30 days.

This Friday, February 22, 2019, the City of Henderson Fire Department will have a Chicken Plate Fundraiser from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Central Fire Station, located at 211 Dabney Drive.

The Fire Department Facebook page states, and Fire Chief Steve Cordell has also said, “This fundraiser is to benefit Raegan Owen and family; Raegan is the daughter of Randy and Debbie Owen. This will be held at Henderson Fire Department Station #1 – 211 Dabney Drive, Henderson. Please see a firefighter about buying tickets or stop by the Henderson Fire Dept.”

Vance, Franklin, Granville and Warren County Fire and Rescue Departments are supporting this cause. “One Family-One Fight. Rise Above For Rae Rae.”

Chief Cordell will join WIZS on TownTalk this Thursday, February 21with final and last-minute details and to remind everyone to come out. WIZS will broadcast live from the Fire Department on Friday for part of the time.

YMCA

Bench Press Fundraiser for Raegan Owen, Local Girl Battling Cancer

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-Information courtesy Harry Orr, Brick Power Team

A bench press contest fundraiser will be held for Raegan (Rae Rae) Owen, a local 10-year-old girl battling cancer, at the Henderson YMCA on Saturday, February 16, 2019. The meet starts at 12 p.m.; weigh-ins from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

$5 door charge for those over age 12. Entry fee is $40 for adults; $30 for teens. Trophies will be awarded for first and second place.

For more information, please email Harry Orr at horr2553@yahoo.com or call (252) 432-4196 and leave a message. All sponsors and volunteers are welcome!