Columbus Regional Healthcare to hold Heart Health Fair in Riegelwood with free screenings on Feb. 20

Event focuses on early detection and community education

Columbus Regional Healthcare System will hold a Heart Health Fair on Friday, Feb. 20, offering free health screenings and educational resources aimed at improving awareness of cardiovascular risk factors in the community. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ransom Community Center in Riegelwood, North Carolina.

Organizers say the fair is designed to bring basic preventive services into a public, walk-in setting, allowing residents to check key indicators linked to heart disease and related chronic conditions. Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in the United States, and public health guidance consistently emphasizes the value of routine screening for blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol as part of risk assessment and prevention planning.

Free screenings offered at the fair

The Heart Health Fair will provide on-site screenings and checks at no cost to participants. Services listed for the event include:

• Blood pressure checks
• Cholesterol screening
• A1C screening
• Glucose screening
• Manual breast exams

These measurements are commonly used to identify elevated cardiovascular risk, including hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes or prediabetes. A1C testing reflects average blood sugar levels over roughly the prior three months and is frequently used in diabetes screening and management.

Education booths, vendors, and community engagement

In addition to clinical checks, the fair is set to include educational booths and vendors. Organizers have also announced giveaways and raffle prizes during the event.

Health fairs of this type typically serve two purposes: they provide a low-barrier entry point for screening, and they encourage participants to follow up with a primary care provider when results indicate potential risk. Organizers are encouraging attendees to use the event to ask questions and connect with healthcare professionals in a community setting.

What residents should know before attending

Residents seeking screening results for longer-term planning are generally advised to record their numbers, ask what ranges are considered concerning, and clarify what follow-up steps are appropriate if a value is elevated.

The fair runs for two hours, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Feb. 20. It will be held at the Ransom Community Center in Riegelwood.

For many residents, events offering no-cost screening can be a first step toward identifying problems earlier, particularly for conditions that may have few symptoms until they become severe.