The Community Health Center of Niagara and Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative have teamed up to host a men’s health event on Saturday morning. The event featured several health-focused activities for the whole family.

Fathers and their families were invited to participate in a 2 mile wellness walk, a car and bike show with the Niagara Falls OG Car Club, and a dance party with a live DJ. Shared Mobility was also present at the event to demonstrate their electric bikes, which will soon arrive in Niagara Falls thanks to a partnership with CHNFC. The providers have set up tables with information on health insurance, primary care services and dental services. Free snacks were also available.

“What better way to celebrate fathers than to help them adopt a healthier lifestyle? Said Brian Archie, community integrator at CHNFC. “And that doesn’t require making huge changes. This event aimed to demonstrate that taking a walk, dancing with the kids, having more fruits and vegetables, going to the doctor regularly – these are things that can make a huge difference in the long run.

The Niagara Community Health Center is the Buffalo, Inc. community health center located in Niagara Falls. CEO and Executive Director Dr LaVonne Ansari appreciated the opportunity to educate men – and families in general – about the importance of taking the time to take care of themselves.

“Fathers play an important role in families and especially in the African American community. Being a part of this event, on the anniversary of the very first party on June 17, is a perfect way to honor them. Access to quality health care is a struggle in communities of color, especially during a pandemic. We will continue to build healthy communities through the services we provide and by working closely with our community partners on initiatives like this one.

Tyler Madell, CTO for Shared Mobility, was on the pitch to lead the dad’s participation in the driving portion of the event and said, “It was amazing to see dads riding e-bikes. These e-bikes are pedal assisted, which means with each pedal the rider gets both more. We are excited to be working with the CHNFC to bring these electric bikes to Niagara Falls residents through the E-Bike Library program.

The event took place at the CHCN location at 2715 Highland Ave.