YOUNGSTOWN — In a short time, Ronald Grace plans to enlist in the U.S. Air Force to serve his country, but before donning his military uniform, Grace took an additional step to serve his health.

“I get checked up once a year, at least,” Grace, 20, of Youngstown, said.

Grace, a 2021 Youngstown Rayen Early College graduate, was happy to receive his blood pressure reading, which was 126/70, as a result of having taken advantage of one of the free health screenings available during Saturday’s 10th annual National 5K Walk & Run, which began and ended at the Covelli Centre, downtown.

Presenting the event was the African American Male Wellness Agency, under which is an initiative started in 2004 that seeks to empower men to better understand the correlation between early prevention and greater longevity.

August also is African American Male Wellness Month in Ohio.

In addition, Grace, who suffered from childhood asthma, intends to receive an overall medical checkup this week. During the 5K walk and run, he also had his body-mass index and cholesterol levels checked.

Grace added that his mother and a cousin served in the U.S. Army and an uncle in the Air Force.

Administering his screening was Teraesha Rhodes, who is studying nursing at ETI Technical College in Niles. Between 18 and 20 fellow ETI nursing students also were on hand to offer the services, said Rhodes, who stressed the importance of early prevention.

Attendees also took advantage of free health screenings for carbon dioxide levels, pulse oximetry and glucose levels.

In addition, the gathering featured information packets and pamphlets on fatherhood support services, programs for new mothers, managing stress and anxiety, primary care options and diseases such as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Also available were resources pertaining to prescription assistance for those who can’t afford medications, as well as on community health.

Getting a proper blood-sugar reading is a sound step toward gauging one’s overall well-being. Doing so also can be a key way to identify the possible onset of Type 2 diabetes, Jamie Pytash, program coordinator for the Salem-based Hannah E. Mullins School of Practical Nursing, noted.

“It’s better to know than to not know, so they can at least take action,” Pytash said, referring also to people who may be reluctant to be screened for fear of receiving bad news.

The nursing program offers full- and part-time programs for those seeking to be licensed practical nurses. The full- and part-time choices allow students to become nurses in 11 months and two years, respectively, Pytash explained.

“We have a 100 percent passage rate to get your nursing license and a 100 percent job placement after graduation,” she continued.

Relatively new to the event was a vendor set up to raise greater awareness of peripheral artery disease, of which up to 12 million Americans are affected. PAD often occurs when plaque builds in the walls and arteries that supply blood to the limbs, usually the legs.

Signs and symptoms include unusually cold feet when the rest of the body’s temperature is normal, wounds or sores on the feet that are slow to heal, leg pain when awake and resting, shiny or discolored skin on the legs and unusual hair loss on the legs and feet, according to www.savelegschangelives.com.

In addition to the plethora of health-related resources, the 5K walk and run offered a bastion of healthful activities and foods.

One such offering was Merch Health’s Stepping Out program, which hosted Zumba classes. Besides the walk and run, other physical activities included line dancing. One table was filled with bananas and fresh fruits.

Also on hand was the Mahoning Valley Mobile Market, a traveling grocery store, which was filled with fresh frozen foods, fruits, vegetables and produce, and was providing $25 food vouchers. Nearby was the mobile Youngstown City Schools QuickMed clinic that was sharing information regarding dental services, health screenings, primary care, occupational and women’s health, physical exams, bloodwork and X-ray services.