NALIS held its second Annual Fit for Literacy, Fit for Life Run/Walk and Health Fair on Saturday November 08. The 6.4K run/walk began and ended at the National Library, Port of Spain.

This event was hosted to raise the public’s awareness about the benefits of living a healthy, active lifestyle; to showcase the resources available on health at libraries and to promote literacy.

Literature has shown the relationship between low literacy levels and poor health. According to the United States National Network of Libraries of Medicine, persons who cannot read would not have the capacity to obtain, process and understand the basic health information services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

Before the race, officials from the North West Regional Health Authority carried out basic health screenings, including hypertension, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index testing.Other stakeholders in health offered counseling regarding nutrition.

Optometrists Today conducted vision screening and the Cancer Society provided information pertaining to cancer prevention.Resource materials on health, available at public libraries, were on display and representatives from the Independent Kennel Club were also on hand to provide information about the use of dogs for the holistic development of persons. Several dogs participated in the event.

Product samples were distributed by Herbalife, Genethics Pharmaceuticals, GNC Trinidad, Glaxosmithkline (GSK) and Flavorite Foods.

Kelvin Johnson and Tonya Nero were the winners of the male and female open categories, respectively. In the NALIS staff category, first place winners were Robert Joseph (male) and Jasmin Raymond (female). The eldest finisher of the race was Errol Chytin (75) and the youngest were Shemaiah Archibald three (3) years old (female) and Jesus Carmino Garraway five (5) years old (male), they were all awarded special prizes.

The full results follow:

Open Category - Male
1st Place – Kelvin Johnson
2nd Place – Lionel Dandrade
3rd Place - George Smith

Open Category – Female
1st Place – Tonya Nero
2nd Place – Samantha Shukla
3rd Place – April Francis

Staff Category – Male
1st Place – Robert Joseph (Research and Planning Department)
2nd Place – Jimmel Hercules (Finance Division)
3rd Place – Stefan Smith (Educational Library Services Division)

Staff Category – Female
1st Place – Jasmin Raymond (Special Libraries)
2nd Place – Anilla Latchman (Information Networks Division)
3rd Place – Jessie Ann Bernard (Port of Spain Young Adult Library)

Eldest Finisher
Errol Chytin

Youngest Finisher
Shemaiah Archibald (3 years old)
Jesus Carmino Garraway (5 years ol