Health and fitness events

DONATIONS AND FITNESS OPPORTUNITY: Lifestyle Family Fitness invites members and non-members to donate gently used clothing at their fitness centers through Wednesday in exchange for a free boot camp session in January. The "Shed the Pounds, Donate the Clothes" donation drive benefits Goodwill Industries. Donation collection carts will be placed at Lifestyle health clubs throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough and Polk counties. For the location of the nearest Lifestyle Family Fitness center, visit www.lff.com or call 1-800-543-3793. Donations to Goodwill Industries support programs that help people who are disabled, elderly or unemployed.

PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR SCREENING STUDY: Moffitt Cancer Center is seeking participants for a pancreatic cancer screening study. The study will examine participants for early signs of pancreatic cancer, with a goal of identifying the disease at an early stage. One hundred participants who meet at least one of the following criteria are needed:

• You have two first-degree relatives with pancreatic or breast cancer

• You have three family members with pancreatic cancer, and at least one is a first-degree relative.

• You have Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome and are older than 30.

• You have hereditary pancreatitis.

• You have familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome.

• You have inherited the BRCA2 gene and have a family history of pancreatic cancer.

• You haven't been screened for pancreatic cancer with a CT or an endoscopic ultrasound scan in the past three years.

Call (813) 745-8358 or e-mail Tiffany.Campo@moffitt.org.

MASTERS SWIM TEAM: The St. Pete Beach Aquatic Center is a satellite facility for the St. Pete masters Swim Team. Programs will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. weekdays and will be appropriate for all levels of training and fitness. Coaching fee is $35 monthly. Call (727) 363-9245.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The Suncoast Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is seeking volunteers in Tampa for a variety of tasks and projects, including data entry, reception, bulk mailings and assisting with fundraising events. Work may take place during regular office hours; some may require weekend and evening hours. Call (813) 963-6461 or e-mail sheryl.oliff@lls.org.

HIKING EVENTS: There are plenty of opportunities to join others for hiking events. To learn more about hiking events in the area, visit www.suncoast.floridatrail.org.

MASTER SWIMMERS: Tampa Bay Aquatics Masters has openings for fitness and competitive swimmers and triathletes. The group swims at a complex near downtown Tampa. For information, visit www.tampaswim.com or e-mail arnp1961@aol.com.

FREE FITNESS CLASSES: Free fitness and movement classes are offered from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Hyde Park Methodist Church (Magnolia building), 500 W. Platt St., Tampa.

TRY A CLASS: Try a class for free at any of the City of St. Petersburg's 17 recreation facilities. Call (727) 893-7441 or visit www.stpete.org/recreation.

MALL WALKING: Free mall walking takes place at 8:30 a.m. daily at Westfield Town Center, Brandon. Call (813) 684-3316.

VOLUNTEER DISPATCHERS AND DRIVERS NEEDED: HealthRide, which provides patients with free transportation to and from Morton Plant North Bay Hospital and Trinity Outpatient Center in New Port Richey, needs volunteer drivers and dispatchers. Shifts are 7:45 to 11:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. weekdays. Call (727) 841-4623.

SPECIALIZED HEARING DEVICES: The Deaf and Hearing Connection for Tampa Bay offers free specialized telephones and ring-signaling devices to Florida residents. Equipment is available by appointment. Call (727) 399-9983, or Florida Telecommunications Relay at 1-800-222-3448 (voice) or 1-888-447-5620 (TTY), or visit www.ftri.org.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Liberty Manor, which provides residential services for honorably discharged veterans with minor disabilities who need some assistance, needs volunteers and mentors to help with yard work, light housekeeping and/or repairs. Liberty Manor has locations in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Call (813) 408-9336 or (813) 531-3493.

SHOP FOR A CURE: Moffitt Cancer Center has launched ShopForCancerCures.org, an online shopping mall to benefit cancer research. It offers merchandise from more than 600 online merchants, and has special offers.

Healing

ADDICTION TESTING AND CONSULTATION: Laser Therapy Stop Smoking Center, 3314 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, offers free nicotine-addiction testing. Appointments are suggested. Call 1-800-NOSMOKE or (813) 874-4700 for an appointment.

CAR SEAT SAFETY: St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, with National Safe Kids, presents classes on car-seat safety on an ongoing basis. Adults must bring the appropriate car and child to the class. Call (813) 870-4747.

DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT: The Largo Community Center, 65 Fourth St. S.W., will host a four-week program to teach ways to control diabetes and improve quality of life. Classes meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays. Call (727) 518-3131.

MENOPAUSE INFORMATION: Download a podcast of one of a series of radio call-in shows discussing menopause at www.copewithmenopause.com. Clicking on the top right icon for "The Menopause Dialogues" podcast downloads.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE: The Centre for Women, 305 S. Hyde Park Ave., Tampa, offers free, confidential assessments for substance abuse. Call (813) 251-8437 and ask for Project Recovery.

SENIOR LEGAL ISSUES: An elder-care lawyer will answer questions in areas including power of attorney, living wills and guardianship from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. the last Wednesday of each month at University Community Hospital-Carrollwood, 717 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Call (813) 615-7300.

SENIORS AND SUBSTANCE ISSUES: The Florida BRITE Project of The Centre for Women provides outreach and intervention services, including screening for substance abuse and depression, education on proper medication use and management, treatment and referrals and home visits, for people age 60 and older. All services are confidential and free. Call (813) 571-1684 or visit www.centreforwomen.org.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: St. Joseph's Hospital offers free orientations for several research-based diet programs. Call (813) 870-4624 for an appointment.

Health screenings

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY: Be scanned by Laser Therapy Center for the status of antioxidant activity in your body. Cost $10, by appointment only. Call (813) 874-4700.

CHOLESTEROL SCREENINGS: 2 to 3 p.m. the fourth Tuesday monthly at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. No appointment necessary. Cost $20. Call (813) 757-8511.

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS: 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. No appointment necessary. Call (813) 757-8511.

HEALTHY WOMEN TODAY: The Pasco County Health Department's Healthy Women Today program offers free or reduced-cost mammograms and other health screenings for women 50 and older who lack health insurance and meet eligibility requirements. Services are available at clinics in Dade City, Land O' Lakes, Hudson, New Port Richey and Zephyrhills, and at Good Samaritan Health Clinic in New Port Richey. For an appointment, call (727) 816-1100.

HIV TESTING: Anonymous testing for HIV is $20 at the Pasco County Health Department, 10841 Little Road, New Port Richey. For an appointment, call (727) 861-5250, ext. 161. Confidential testing also is available by appointment; call (727) 862-0782.

MEMORY: Roskamp Institute Memory Clinic, 5208 E. Fowler Ave., Suite E, Tampa, offers free memory screenings for adults 60 and older. Appointments are required. Call (813) 979-2008.

MEMORY: Stedman Clinical Trials, 3212 Cove Bend Drive, Tampa, offers free memory screenings from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (813) 971-8311 for an appointment.

Support groups

AFRICAN-AMERICAN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS: Sisters Network of Tampa Bay meets monthly at Seminole Heights Library, 4711 N. Central Ave., Tampa. Call (813) 806-0597, or e-mail sistersnetworktampa@hotmail.com.

ALCOHOL: For a local listing of Al-Anon and Alateen, anonymous support groups for those affected by alcoholics, go to www.tampabayalanon.org. Also visit these Web sites: www.northfloridaal-anon.org or www.tampabayalanon.org.

ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVER: For caregivers of people with memory loss meets at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday monthly at First Baptist Church of Plant City, 503 N. Palmer St., Room 140. Call Linda Bryant at (813) 754-3761 or Bill Barr at (813) 719-8392. Call the Alzheimer's Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter at (863) 292-9210 or 1-800-772-8672 if you need to arrange care for your loved one so you can attend.

ALZHEIMER'S: The Alzheimer's Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Brandon Support Group meets at 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at Superior Residences, 1819 Providence Ridge Blvd. Call (813) 684-1296.

ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVER: Beacon Pointe Assisted Living, 1513 W. Fletcher Ave., Tampa. The group meets at 2 p.m. the third Monday monthly. Call Beth Ann Joseph at (813) 971-8311.

ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVER: Ptak Orthopedic and Neuroscience Pavilion, 430 Morton Plant St., Clearwater. The group meets at 10 a.m. the second Monday monthly. Call (727) 462-7500.

ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVER: Homewood Residence, 3910 Galen Court, Sun City Center. The group meets at 1 p.m. every Tuesday. Call (813) 971-8311.

ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVER: St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1239 Del Web Blvd. W., Sun City Center. The group meets at 11 a.m. the first and third Wednesdays monthly. Call (813) 971-8311.

ALZHEIMER'S FAMILY CAREGIVERS: Interbay-Glover Family YMCA, 4411 S. Himes Ave., Tampa. The group meets from noon to 1:30 a.m. the last Tuesday monthly. Call (813) 839-0210.

AMPUTEES: UnLimbited Possibilities Amputee Support Group meets at 7 p.m. the last Monday of every month in the private dining room at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Spring Hill. Call (352) 592-4279.

AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS: Bardmoor Outpatient & Surgery Center, 8787 Bryan Dairy Road, Largo. The group meets at 4 p.m. the second Tuesday monthly. Call (727) 462-7500.

ARTHRITIS: The support group meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. the first Thursday monthly at University Community Hospital-Carrollwood, 717 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Call (813) 615-7300.

BEREAVEMENT: Resolve Through Sharing, a bereavement support group, meets at 6:45 p.m. the first Tuesday monthly at Mease Dunedin Hospital, 601 Main St. Call (727) 462-7500.

BEREAVEMENT: Hernando/Pasco Hospice offers a bereavement support group meeting from 2 to 3 p.m. Mondays at St. Joseph's Parish Center, 38750 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills. Call (813) 780-6797.

BEREAVEMENT: Gulfside Regional Hospice offers bereavement support group meetings at 10 a.m. Thursdays at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 15801 U.S. 19 N., Hudson. Call (727) 844-3946 or (813) 780-1235.