On August 1, 2018, the Rich Valley Fair held its first annual Senior Health Fair sponsored by Ballad Health. The event was open to the public at no charge, and was an effort to reach the elderly in the area to inform them about various health care options and organizations near them. Blue Ridge Job Corps took part in the health fair, as did up to twenty other organizations, including Smyth County Community Hospital, Francis Marion Manor, and Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems.
Two Blue Ridge Nursing Assistant students, Lashae McConnell and Markita Fitzhugh manned the Job Corps booth alongside Business Community Liaison Jordan Loupe. These students provided free blood pressure screenings to the health fair attendees, and they also distributed Job Corps information to attendees as well as the other vendors. Markita stated, “I really enjoyed meeting the different people and helping them with their blood pressure screenings.” Both students were highly professional, and they showed off the skills they have learned throughout their time at Blue Ridge Job Corps. Robin Miller, who oversaw the variety of vendors stated that she was very thankful that Blue Ridge took part, and that it helped to make the very first Rich Valley Senior Health Fair a great success.