Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care System
Women's Health and Fitness Day
Recreation Therapist Harry Jones demonstrates the proper use of exercise equipment to Fayetteville VA medical Center staff members Bridgett Booth, Margo Cooper and Kathleen Holmes during the National Women's Health and Fitness Day event.
There are many ways to work fitness into the daily routine as there are people, and women veterans did just that during the 9th annual National Women's Health and Fitness Day (NWHFD), which was held Sept. 29 at the Fayetteville VAMC from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Approximately 100 participants joined thousands of other women at hundreds of locations — all across the country on the same day — as they walked, danced, played and learned about VA healthcare benefits and other healthcare tips as well. NWHFD gave women an opportunity to begin or renew a commitment to fitness and to celebrate an active lifestyle, while celebrating women veterans.
Fayetteville VAMC demonstrated that fitness can be fun. Women of all ages experienced appropriate and enjoyable forms of exercise. Physical Training sessions were led throughout the event by Army Spec. Jamie Vance and Staff Sgt. Equinthnia Swann from Fort Bragg. Terri Kane, who is also a woman veteran and serves a Veterans Service Officer and North Carolina State Women Veterans Coordinator, also led women through physical training sessions during the event.
Betty Goolsby, Director of the Fayetteville VA Medical Center, joined the women veterans in a physical training session and thanked each participant individually for being a part of the event.
She stated, "If you had been at the VAMC Fayetteville the week of September 27th you would have seen women exercising to the instruction of active Army physical fitness trainers, displays on health and wellness, and renewed pledges to living a healthier lifestyle. The energy level, motivation, and commitment to taking care of one's self were incredible!"
Marie Robinson-McLaughlin, who had only been in her role as Interim Women Veteran Program Manager for the Fayetteville VA Medical Center for less than a week, thought it was very important for women veterans in the Fayetteville area to be a part of this national event.
The Fayetteville VAMC has approximately 8,300 women veterans enrolled and is working diligently to increase the number of women veterans using the numerous healthcare services available.
For more information about the Fayetteville VAMC's health and educational activities for women, contact Marie Robinson-McLaughlin, Interim Women Veterans Program Manager (910-488-2120 ext 7210/7979).
