Healthy Town event guide 2016

There are numerous free events on in Navan and surrounding areas over the coming weeks as part of The Irish Times Pfizer healthy town initiative (irishtimes.com/healthytown).

Here is a list of some of the highlights. If you have an event that you think should be included, email: healthytownnavan@edelman.com

Cycling

Tomorrow (Saturday, October 8th, there will be a Team Garmin Vector Challenge outside  Donohoe Expert Electrical. Garmin has set up a competition bike on a static roller and people will be able to measure their performance and techniques  on a 30 second telemetry system. Its open to all and John Donolhoe says it is expected that a lot of triathlon and cycle clubs will take the challenge. There is also a food blogger from The Wonky Spatula who will be giving healthy eating demos. There will also be a Fitbit demos.

Walking

The Healthy Town evening walking group at Blackwater Park, led by Meath Sports Partnership's Lucy Dillon holds  its weekly walk on Tuesdays. It starts  at 6.45pm during the Healthy Town project.

A walking group has also been organised at Claremont Stadium, every Thursday morning at 10.30 am.

Health checks

As part of the project, the Irish Heart Foundation is conducting a series of free health checks in Navan and will arrange with various groups to do them. Some are open to the public and the first of these took place in the Ardboyne Hotel on Saturday September 24th. Places are limited to 24 and bookings can be made by phoning Caoimhe Rudden at the IHF on 01-668 5001.

The IHF will also hold public health checks on October 22nd at Claremont Stadium. Again, places are limited and contact Caoimhe Rudden at the IHF on 01- 668 5001.

Mental health

On Wednesday October 5th, psychologist and author Dr Harry Barry gave a very well attended talk on mental health including coping with anxiety at the Ardboyne Hotel. More than 130 people attended and Dr Barry answered questions from individuals for an hour after the talk. Laura McKittrick of Jigsaw in Navan, the mental health support group for young people, gave a short talk highlighting the service, before Dr Barry's talk.