JACKSON — For the first time in her life, Linda Mulder of Conway was screened for kidney disease.

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“I was impressed with it,” she said after being checked in the mobile unit from the University of North Carolina Kidney Center. “I’d never had it done before,” she said.

Mulder said she saw their table, read the literature and decided to be screened. “It was a quick process.”

It was one of many tables she visited during the Northampton Wellness Festival Friday morning, sponsored by The Office on Aging, the health department, J.W. Faison Senior Center, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the Northampton Healthy Carolinians. There were also health screenings for cholesterol and blood pressure along with door prizes and information.

Mulder even took time to participate in a dance with others. “It was good. It was what I needed because I need to do more exercise,” she said.

Caroline Jennette, a social research specialist with the UNC Kidney Center, said Northampton County is one of the target counties with a high rate of end stage kidney disease.

“We are traveling to counties around the state to let people know the risk factors and help them go from there,” she said.

Some risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure and a family history of kidney disease.  “The good news about kidney disease is if it is caught early enough, it can be slowed,” Jennette said.

Catherine Moody, of Garysburg, had her blood sugar checked at the Northampton County Health Department table. “I like to keep up with my health,” she said.

Moody said she walks about five miles a day and knows it helps along with eating right. “If I can keep my cholesterol and blood pressure in check, I’ll keep walking,” she said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

Dora Som-Pimpong was at the event to educate people about Alzheimer’s Disease and find participants for a genetic research study about the disease.

A public health specialist at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, she said the Alzheimer’s Association has found the disease occurs more often in African-Americans than among whites.

“We are looking at the genetics of African-Americans and going around to communities providing educational material to get participants,” she said.

African-American men and women age 60 years and older are needed for the study. Individuals with severe memory loss and thinking problems, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are needed along with those who don’t have those issues.

To join the study, call the Alzheimer’s study coordinators at 1-888-248-2808 at NC A&T.

“We come to the person’s home and perform neurology exams, questions about the family and medical history and take a blood sample,” Som-Pimpong said.

Overall, she was impressed with the turnout of the event. “It is such a good turnout especially with the weather being what it was,” she said. “I’ve had quite a few visitors.”

Ann Best, of Rich Square, said she was having a wonderful time at the event with her husband and friends. “We have had a ball,” she said, after participating in a group dance.

Best came to the event last year and said she was pleased with what she saw this year. “This is wonderful,” she said. “I have had some screenings done.”

Debby Warren, director of the Northampton County Office on Aging, said the Wellness Festival had gone very well. “The weather impacted the turnout some but everyone seems to be having a good time,” she said.

“The UNC Kidney van was really a big success. I think everyone here has gotten screened,” Warren said.

Rebecca J. Bayse, director of the J.W. Faison Senior Center, said several folks from the center came to the event. “A lot of our people are involved with lots of things in the county,” she said. “I think it went very well.”