Children who attended this year’s Celebrate Erie festival learned healthy living can be fun thanks to LECOM and Wellsville. Medical and pharmacy students from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine entertained and educated children about health and fitness. LECOM students played games with the children and explained to them how eating right, exercising and practicing good habits can help keep them healthy.

LECOM students enjoyed taking their message of prevention and wellness to the youngest members of the Erie community. Second-year medical student Erin Brennan recruited 34 medical students, while second-year pharmacy student Megan Groshner rallied 33 pharmacy students to help out. The students wore bright yellow Wellsville t-shirts with LECOM spelled across the back. Their presence was hard to miss at Celebrate Erie.

Wellsville founders Kathy Iorio and Tony Snow, M.D., estimated that nearly 700 kids took part in Wellsville activities on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In addition, hundreds of other parents and children stopped by to learn more about Wellsville. The organization teaches children about exercise, nutrition and self-esteem by incorporating fun activities, hands-on demonstrations and heart-pumping exercises. The Wellsville area was on State Street between 8th and 9th streets in the Celebrate Erie Kids Zone.

Trent Webb finds the kidneys in the Wellsville Anatomy game with the help of Adam Biedny, LECOM OMS1.	Twelve-year-old Daniela Altadonna learns about healthy living while playing the beanbag game with Kaitlyn Fagan, LECOM RX2.

Erin Brennan, LECOM OMS2, (front center) joins some of the 34 students she organized to help Wellsville at Celebrate Erie.

Kelsey Lacks, LECOM RX2 times and encourages six-year-old Donvan Altadonna as he demonstrates his strength and dexterity.

Wellsville Medical Director Tony Snow, MD congratulates Megan Groshner, LECOM RX2 on her work coordinating the LECOM Pharmacy Students at Celebrate Erie.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and LECOM School of Pharmacy offer innovative and affordable education in osteopathic medicine and pharmacy. From campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania, Greensburg, Pennsylvania and Bradenton, Florida, LECOM provides student-centered pathways to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. Prepare yourself for medicine as your life’s profession.