SoulFood Festival again features health incentives

PATTERSON -- The 100 Black Men of St Mary Parish will continue their health initiatives when they present the Sixth Annual Soul Food Festival June 18 -21 in Franklin.
Although the festival kicks off June 18 with a kickoff party at the Teche Theatre, a 3.1 mile race will kick off events on June 20, followed by a Health Village, sponsored by Teche Health, formerly Teche Action Clinic.
Kreig Triggs, a member of the 100 and race director of the event, said the race will begin on Parc Sur La Teche (also known as Teche Drive or the Bayou Side along Bayou Teche), at 7:30 a.m., with a warm-up around 7:20 a.m.
“We want to beat the heat. The route is basically going to be one big circle, traveling to Second Street, to Main, passing in front the courthouse to the other side of the bayou near EastWood, and then back to its starting point,” Triggs said.
Walkers are also welcome, he said.
“Everyone will receive a finishing medal, the first man and woman to cross the finish line will receive a souvenir glass, and the second and third place man and woman will each receive gift bags for their efforts.”
Triggs said it costs $30 to enter the event, at runsignup.com/Race/LA/Franklin/SoulFoodFestival 5K.
“This is a good and growing community activity. Folks who have never ran continually show up. We’re always excited to see everyone,” he said.
Proceeds from the race will benefit the scholarship fund of the 100 Black Men.
Attorney Ed Jones, who founded the organization in 1993, said the group has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to one senior from each of the participating St. Mary Parish high schools.
Later Saturday, Teche Health, formerly known as Teche Action Clinic, will present its Sixth Healthy Village, this year to be located in the air conditioned Lamppost at 731 Main St., Franklin, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Teche Marketing Supervisor Florence Beverly said a team from Teche will be present, representing Behavioral Health, WIC and Nutrition, and Pediatrics. Another team will be present taking free blood pressure screenings.
There will also be various vendors from the community, including the St. Mary Parish Community Action Agency’s Head Start Program.
Dr. Gary Wiltz, M.D., Teche Health CEO, encourages all men parish wide to visit the health village at the festival.
“June is known nationally as Mens’ Health Month. I encourage all men, as well as all wives, to attend and get their guys on track, with their health.
Wiltz said men need to prioritize their health, and promote and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“It’s OK to seek mental health support when stressed, especially in this economy that we are all living in, at the moment.”
He said the event will push the basics of health: to maintain a normal body weight, to exercise on a regular basis, to eat right, and to avoid tobacco use.
“In the African American male population, smoking lowers life expectancy by an average of 10 years,” he said.
On another note, he said holding emotions in worsens physical health via nervous-system effects.