The day started at the Raising Star Middle School where Dominique Wilkins helped "tip off" registration for the Peachtree City Youth Basketball Association and along with Senator Chance discussed the importance of children forming lifelong healthy habits to prevent diabetes and heart disease.

The diabetes awareness event at Towne Club is one part of a larger day of activities to launch the Fayette Healthy Community Partnership, a collaboration of health care provider organizations, employers, retailers, and other businesses and groups brought together by locals Daye Bexley and Terry Womack to promote health and wellness in Fayette and Coweta Counties. Leaders of the Partnership include the Piedmont Fayette and Newnan Hospitals and the Piedmont Heart Institute, Kroger Stores and Pharmacies, the Center for Health Transformation, and Novo Nordisk.

In addition to the visit by Mr. Wilkins and Sen. Chance to the Peachtree City Youth Basketball Association at the Rising Starr Middle School Gym, today's events included an appearance by Mr. Wilkins at Kroger Fayetteville, where Kroger and Piedmont Fayette Hospital health care professionals combined forces to conduct a Health Fair focused on diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and Body Mass index.

"At Kroger Stores and Pharmacies, we're committed to giving our customers not only quality products and services, but also opportunities to improve their health," said Liza Chapman, Pharm.D., Clinical Coordinator with Kroger Pharmacy. "That's why we will be providing free health screenings at seven of our stores in Fayette County beginning today through September 19, 2009. Please call 1-877.4RX-CLINIC (1-877-479-2546) or visit
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