The Employee Wellness and Assistance Program will bring relaxing exercises and medical check-ups today during its 11th annual wellness fair.

“Usually we hold the event in the last week of March,” said program administrator Karen Smith. “But the people we co-sponsor the event with weren’t here last week, so it was a week later this year.”

Co-sponsored by the Office of Campus Recreation, the fair runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holmes Student Center’s Duke Ellington Ballroom and Capitol Room, and will include screenings and demonstrations.

On stage, yoga and fencing will be displayed, and the Hiu-Falun Dafa Association will perform. Falun Dafa practitioners focus on refining the body and mind through special exercises and meditation, according to the group’s Web site, www.falundafa.org.

“This is the first year that people will be able to sign up to be an organ donor,” Smith said. “We were contacted by the organization, and since it deals with wellness, we were more than happy to have a table there for people to sign up.”

Screenings for blood pressure, hearing and speech assessment also will be done. Blood and thyroid screenings won’t be given, but appointments can be made.

“People may also purchase colon cancer screening kits,” Smith said. “That is something new this year. They can buy the kits here and do the tests in the privacy of their own home.”

Diabetes checks, involving a finger-prick test to check blood sugar levels, also will be done by Kishwaukee Community Hospital.

“I believe this fair gives people a chance to take advantage of certain testing they may never do,” Smith said. “People tend not to go to doctors.”

Massage therapists will be available to give massages throughout the day.

“Everyone out there should take advantage of this event,” Smith said. “It is really worthwhile and it informs people what is out there. It also gives them a chance to meet the providers of a service before they decide to have it done.”

Smith said the fair usually draws between 1,300 to 1,500 people.

For more information, call the Employee Wellness and Assistance Program at 753-9191.