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Left: Bob Hagwood’s One-Man Band. Right: As if by magic, Dave Risley turns upstanding seniors into the 3 little pigs & the big bad wolf.
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What do you get when you put together 95 hard working people, 100 lbs. of chicken, 45 lbs.of catfish, a one man band, a classic movie comedy, 20 health screenings, 65 exhibit booths, lots of ice cream, popcorn and one very funny comedian?
 The answer: SeniorFest 2000! That’s right, this September brought us the best SeniorFest ever. We laughed our way to better health in Portsmouth, Newport News and Norfolk where over 800 of you joined us for this record setting event. You can see our SeniorFest Sponsor ads in this issue of SeniorHealth. With-out our sponsors there would be no SeniorFest!
A big event? Of course! But an even bigger story happened behind the scenes. The Bon Secours Senior Health staff put the word out that help was needed, and a most amazing show of the giving spirit unfolded. Hospital employees and volunteers gave many hours above and beyond their regular (already rigorous) schedules to pitch in.
At Mary Immaculate Hospital, 12 people volunteered to wait tables at the exquisite SeniorFest Dinner. This was no small job. They knew they would be on their feet and on the move with heavy trays with 196 hungry people to serve. But they came in smiling, sleeves rolled up and ready to work. One very special man, Jerry Dodson, offered to help not only at dinner but also at the Health Fair the following day. Jerry does clowning and wanted to give of his talent. He called the Senior Health office a few days before the event with very sad news. His mother had passed away that morning. But instead of saying he could not make it, he asked if he would be able to leave by 5:30 to be with his family at the wake. Jerry did wait tables that evening, in full clown glory, and made many of us laugh. I am sure his dear mother was smiling with pride. Also working with Jerry and other staff members were 5 nuns who turned down the invitation to be our guests for dinner but insisted on helping instead.
The dinner at DePaul Medical Center also brought out Bon Secours’ best. A record 25 staff and family members waited tables for the sold out crowd of 200. A special thanks goes to high school students Laura Carroll, daughter of Lisa Carroll, Jonathan McPherson, son of Keith McPherson and his friend Andrew Joslin, who gave of their valuable time to join the wait staff.
After dinner, the auditorium was transformed from its elegant setting to a festival atmosphere for the next day’s fair. The transformation happened in record speed thanks to more special teenagers who probably would have rather been somewhere else, but volunteered to prepare the room for your enjoyment. Eric Mitchell, son of Jill Mitchell, Nate Morgan, and Thomas Dewey play varsity soccer for Norfolk Collegiate Academy. After a rigorous practice on September 14, they came to DePaul’s Price auditorium for the big room set up. Also helping were Macall Underwood and Malisa Bumpus, daughters of Linda Bumpus.
There are many other stories just as touching as the ones above that happen every day behind the scenes at Bon Secours. The French word Bon Secours translates as good help. The staff, volunteers and families of Bon Secours Hospitals proved once again that Good ‘Help’ thrives at Bon Secours.
Special thanks to all of our sponsors. Without them SeniorFest wouldn't be possible.
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