More than 300 Jefferson County Public School students took part in the 2012 MedFest event when it was held on Tuesday, October 16, in the Brown and Williamson Club at Louisville's Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The participants represented 39 Jefferson County schools.

The event provided free sports physicals to all participants, and while participating in Special Olympics competition wasn't required for taking part in MedFest, those physicals qualify all MedFest attendees to compete in Special Olympics immediately.

Sports physicals were just one of the screenings offered at MedFest. Attendees could also receive vision, dental and hearing screenings, and where warranted received referrals for further services will be sent home to their parents. Dental screenings alone generated 57 referrals for untreated issues, 14 of which were deemed urgent.

The Brown and Williamson Club was was transformed into a bustling medical clinic for the 2012 MedFest event.

All screenings were provided by volunteers and were completely free by attendees.

While at MedFest, attendees were also greeted by local mascots and received lunch before busing back to their schools for dismissal.

The 2012 MedFest -- the first in Louisville since 2010 -- was made possible by the support of this year's event sponsors, Jefferson County Public Schools, WHAS Crusade for Children, Metro Louisville Government, Delta Dental, Papa Johns and Horton Fruit.

We would also like to thank the many volunteers who helped make the day a success -- SOKY Board Chair and Special Olympics Global Director of Medical Services, Dr. Matt Holder; Board Member Mike Polio, Spalding University College of Nursing-Nurse Practitioner Program; U of L Physician Medicine and Rehab Residency Program; Galen College of Nursing; Underwood and Lee Clinic; Dr. Troy Coker Family Eye Care Staff; Diana Burke and Ann Ellen Carr; and the MedFest Committee -- Jackie June, Dan Pike, Karen George, Kim Timmell, Randy Mills, Anette Mazzoni, Barbara Hatton and Robyn Ballinger.

Part of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes initiative, MedFest is a one-day health fair where children with intellectual disabilities can receive free sports physicals along with vision, dental and hearing screenings. All health workers involved in the MedFest screenings are properly trained and offer referrals for parents if they feel that a child needs further care.

The physical that the students receive meets the requirements necessary for participation in the Special Olympics sports programs. This removes a major hurdle that many athletes run into when they try to compete in Special Olympics.

Dental exams, provided by volunteers from the Underwood and Lee Clinic, were one of a number of screenings available at MedFest.

“Like all other sports programs, it is important for our athletes to receive a physical so that they can be sure they are healthy enough to compete,” said Special Olympics President and CEO Trish Mazzoni.

“Unfortunately our population often has an especially difficult time accessing health care. That’s why MedFest is so important. It allows these children the opportunity to see medical professionals who are trained to handle their needs free of charge and gives them the boost they need to be able to compete and show the world how much they can accomplish through sports.”

Special Olympics Kentucky partners with a local school system to register participants and provide transportation during the school day. The program also partners with local medical organizations and individual medical professionals to provide the various screenings free of charge.

MedFest got its start in Kentucky in 2005 when Special Olympics Kentucky offered its first event in Lexington. Events have been held in Lexington and Louisville since that date

If you are interested in attending, would like to volunteer or would like more information about this event, please contact Kim at 1-800-633-7403 or e-mail at  ksatterwhite@soky.org