PITTSBORO - Central Carolina Community College continues its celebration of 50 years of healthy growth and service to its communities with its Chatham Celebration, a day of fun, learning, and entertainment for the whole family, on Saturday, April 28.

A Health Fair will be an important part of this community involvement event taking place at the college's Chatham County Campus, 764 West St. According to CCCC Chatham Provost Karen Allen, the college's programs and leadership in Chatham have had a sharp focus for many years on the health of the environment and the health of residents.

CCCC opened its doors as the Lee County Industrial Education Center in 1961 in Sanford. It expanded into Chatham County in 1964, with a health-related program, nurse aide, starting in April of that year.

"It made sense to continue this emphasis on health with the campus's celebration of the college's founding," Allen said. "For our health care to be sustainable, there is an increased need for good personal nutrition and fitness, a need for people to understand the importance of physical fitness and taking care of their health. At the celebration, they can gain that knowledge while having a good time."

A number of free health screenings will be available. Chatham Hospital will do falls risk assessment, blood pressure checks, pulmonary function tests, blood sugar testing and diabetes education, and cholesterol measurement. The various departments will also provide information and descriptions of the services they offer. The Chatham County Health Department will be there to talk to visitors about the services they offer.

UNC-Chapel Hill's McLendon Clinical Laboratories, in partnership with BeTheMatch.org, will do a registry drive in the Student Center for potential bone marrow donors.

"The lives of people with potentially fatal diseases such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, and lymphoma can frequently be saved with a bone marrow transplant," said Cindy Smith, coordinator for CCCC-Chatham's Continuing Education medical programs. "A quick swab of the inside of the cheek is all that is needed to have one's tissue type tested."

With the tissue typed, a person may be able to register as a potential blood marrow donor with Be The Match, an agency of the National Marrow Donor Program. Potential donors must be between 18 and 60, be willing to donate to any patient, and meet the health guidelines.

Celebration participants can also enjoy healthy fun activities, from taking part in a 5K or children's run to strolling on the walking trail or playing disc golf. The dedication of the disc golf course, built with a grant from Chatham Parks and Recreation, will take place at the event.

The celebration kicks off with a 7:45 a.m. flag raising by the Chatham County Sheriff's Department at the campus's main entrance, 764 West St. At 8 a.m., runners take off on the 5K Rabbit Run, with a short Kids Fun Run following at 9 a.m. Pre-registration is $20 for the adult run and $10 for the children's run until April 25 online at . On the day of the event, registration is $25 for adults and $10 for children.

Free activities are offered between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. For more information about the celebration and a schedule of activities, go to www.cccc/50years/events.

Chatham County residents interested in a health career can fill out an application for the Pittsboro Area Health Initiative (PAHI) Scholarship during the April 28 event. The application process, sponsored by the college's Continuing Education Department in Chatham County, takes place in the Student Center. A list of the Continuing Education medical programs being offered during the summer semester will also be available.

Everyone is invited to come and enjoy the day. Activities include entertainment; classes in culinary arts, agriculture and pottery; law enforcement demonstrations; barbering and cosmetology services; and more. Huang Ling, the college's Confucius Classroom instructor, will demonstrate Chinese calligraphy.

Children's activities include a bounce house, story telling, face painting, caricatures, a ride in a hot air balloon, and more.

Visitors can also enjoy a tour, starting at noon, of the college's sustainable features, from its Student Farm to its green buildings. The JobLink Career Center will be open during the event to show the services it offers. Food vendors, including the college's culinary arts students, will have snacks and food for sale.

Comedy Dinner Theatre performances top off the college's 50th Anniversary Chatham Celebration. This is a paid-admission event. CCCC Communication and Theater instructor Ellen Bland and CCCC Hospitality and Culinary Program director Chef Gregg Hamm direct the college's acting and culinary arts students in presenting this triple treat: a three-course meal and three short comedies.

Show times are 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. in the Holmes Meeting Room of the Chatham Community Library, located on the Chatham Campus. Seating is limited and advance ticket purchase is required. Tickets are $16 and are available at the college's Administration Office, Building 1, on the Chatham Campus or www.brownpapertickets.com.