The MedicAlert Foundation celebrated its 55th anniversary with a Health and Safety Fair on Saturday at the foundation’s international headquarters in Turlock.

Event attendees were provided with free health screenings, safety information, first responder demonstrations, children’s activities and even free food.

MedicAlert CEO Andrew Wigglesworth explained the foundation’s commitment to Turlock.

“While MedicAlert has four million members worldwide we never lose sight of the community where it all started and we want to give back to this community,” he said.

Turlock Mayor John Lazar was on hand and he said that when he travels to other towns he explains that Turlock is the home of MedicAlert.

One of the highlights of the day was the announcement of a new agreement between MedicAlert and Central Valley districts of the Lions Club including the 12:10 Lions of Turlock. The Lions Clubs are working to keep children safe by providing the MedicAlert service to youth ages 4-14 who have a medical condition such as autism — which require bracelets with medical information.

School nurses in the area identify children with autism and then notify the Lions Club, which then pays a reduced price of $100 for all youth 4-14 years old. The reduced price for 10 years of service is a main component of the partnership between Lions and MedicAlert. In addition, MedicAlert and Lions Club members planted a tree as part of the Lions Club tree planting project.

Recently the program was extended to the two and a half year old granddaughter of Hilmar residents Earl and Mary Anderson. Their granddaughter, due to salt fluctuations from diabetes, has seizures and suffers from blindness.

Lions Club members say the program will likely go nationwide in a few years.

To contact Jonathan McCorkell, e-mail jmccorkell@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.