The focus is on fitness, but “… we hope to have something for everyone,” said Scott Galbiati of the River Valley Chamber. We’re talking about the third annual Rumford Hospital “Fitness and Fun Fair” scheduled for this coming Saturday.

The family event runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., rain or shine. From pancakes to pasta – byo lunch? – the fair is packed with activities outdoors and in. Dry land training for serious Nordic skiers and a bike rodeo for kids over 5 (do bring your own bike). Inside the lodge, there will be a health fair. Prizes will go to the top three winners of the 1k (at 1 p.m.) and the 5k (at 1:30 p.m.).

I hope when Jane Bubar describes the health fair as “interactive” she means we can get in line for a massage! Or a little sauna time. Or get into the Dance Revolution. Health fair activities run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We’ll all want to be outside when the new Maine LifeFlight helicopter lands at Black Mountain.

All day long the mountain’s Ski Depot will offer a kayak and ski preview. Plus season ski passes will be on sale, and this year, THERE WILL BE SNOW! The Almanac says so.

Three good reasons

Why, you may be asking, is she writing about the Fitness and Fun Fair when I can read all about it online (www.rivervalleychamber.com) and in the news stories in the Sun Journal or the Rumford Falls Times?

1. The fair is promoting healthy activities for all, but especially for families. There are too many overweight children and adults around here, and too few families take advantage of opportunities for enjoyable physical activities – affordable and available on and off the mountain.

2. Saturday’s program at Black Mountain clearly demonstrates the potential for four-season use of one of Rumford’s and the River Valley’s greatest assets. The potential is tremendous.

3. The third annual Rumford Hospital Fitness and Fun Fair is a model of collaboration: All parties, individual and organizational, to the project recognize their common interests.

“We’re going to be sponsoring other events at the mountain,” hospital spokeswoman Bubar said, because “… their mission of promoting healthy lifestyles jibes with ours.”

Rumford Area Rotary, River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition and Project NOW, Black Mountain of Maine, the River Valley Chamber of Commerce and Rumford Hospital are all working together, differences aside, to serve the community. Imagine that.

Linda Farr Macgregor lives with her husband, Jim, in Rumford. She is a freelance writer and author of “Rumford Stories.” E-mail her at [email protected]