A free health fair Saturday morning aims at bringing individual health to the forefront of people’s minds. The fair, sponsored by the 29th District of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rho Alpha Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, will be held from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Laurinburg. “In the last year or so, I’ve lost some friends and have come to find out that they had not been to the doctor, especially men, because they didn’t think they had any problems,” said event organizer Evelyn Allen. The event will begin with free blood pressure screenings, with breakfast available. At 9 a.m., Scotland Health Care System oncologist Dr. Kelvin Raybon will present on preventing cancer and the warning signs of the disease, particularly breast, colon, and prostate cancers. Following Raybon, Kathie Cox, a community health educator with the Scotland County Health Department, will give pointers on how people can safeguard themselves against chronic diseases. “It should be a great informative program and encourage people not only to see the importance of screenings but also to talk about how they can decrease their risk factors for developing a chronic disease and what they can do to prevent complications and prevent chronic disease altogether,” said Cox. The speakers will encourage participants to be vigilant about their health before a severe illness or injury forces them to do so. Cox will focus on diabetes, hypertension, and how physical activity and balanced nutrition contribute to good health. “Some people do sort of disregard their own health,” Cox said. “People don’t necessarily pay attention to their health as much as they should or could. There are a lot of things that are just small steps that people can take toward a healthier lifestyle.” Allen said that many of her friends and acquaintances could have been spared serious health problems or even death had they taken preventative measures. “This is one way to let people know that they need an annual checkup,” she said. “We’re trying to make more people aware of the need to be healthy and eat healthy, and as we grow older we will instill that in our children so that they can be healthy and help others be healthy.” For a spotlight on diabetes, Scotland Memorial Foundation will hold its annual Diabetes Fair, themed “Living the Sweet Life,” on Nov. 29. The event, for which will inform participants of many aspects of living with diabetes, will be held from 5-8 p.m. in the Community Health and Rehabilitation Center. To register, call 291-7550.