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'AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour' to Provide Free Health Screenings and Services

Posted on: Tuesday, 14 April 2009, 08:00 CDT

Fleet of Health Screening Vehicles Dispatched; Goal to Provide More Than $60 Million Worth of Free Health Screenings

NEW YORK, April 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP and Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) today announced the launch of a two-year, national mobile health screening tour with a goal of providing more than $60 million worth of free health screenings. The AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour, which aims to administer more than 2.5 million free screenings, kicks off in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza and for the next two years will conduct health screening events in more than 3,000 communities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The free screenings -- which include total cholesterol levels, blood pressure, bone density, glucose levels, waist circumference and body mass index -- will help provide adults with a critical foundation for early disease detection and prevention.

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"We are pleased to team up with Walgreens to help provide important health screenings at a time when many cannot afford preventive health care," said A. Barry Rand, AARP's Chief Executive Officer. "It is clear the health crisis in our country has reached a critical point. AARP looks forward to helping Walgreens make these much-needed health screenings available to all, along with information that will greatly increase the chances for early detection of chronic disease and other potential health problems."

"During previous tours, I witnessed how these free screenings can be a life-saving resource. We're proud to carry on that tradition," said Greg Wasson, Walgreens President and CEO. "Joining with AARP for our renewed effort is perfect because of its dedication to improving lives and offering greater access to health resources, particularly among those most in need. Together, we can tap into our strong community networks to make sure the tour reaches the people who need us most."

The AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour is comprised of nine custom-equipped buses with dedicated staff of Walgreens trained medical technicians and will travel separate routes canvassing the country. Each bus will spend several days in designated cities providing free services at local events, community centers, Walgreens store locations and other select locations with a special emphasis on underserved communities. Screenings are recommended for adults age 18 and older. Results are instantly provided and consumers are encouraged to visit a doctor or health care provider to discuss them. Visitors also have access to free educational information on a variety of health and wellness issues that are available in both English and Spanish.

This is the fifth year Walgreens has committed to providing free health screenings through a traveling health screening campaign. As proven through previous Walgreens programs, health screenings are a critical method for detecting potential diseases before symptoms are noticed. In fact, of those screened during the 2008 tours:

• 72.8% had high blood pressure levels
• 68.2% had high body mass index
• 65.9% had low bone density
• 60.5% had a waist circumference outside of the normal range
• 38.0% had high cholesterol levels
• 13.3% had high glucose levels

Consumers can learn when the tour is scheduled to serve their community by calling toll-free 1-866-484-8687 or online at www.aarpwalgreens.com/tour. Free, one-year AARP memberships will be given to all adults who receive screenings. Participants under the age of 50 can pass on the free membership to an eligible adult, and existing members will receive a one-year extension on their current membership status.About Walgreens

Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2008 sales of $59 billion. The company operates 6,679 drugstores in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Walgreens provides the most convenient access to consumer goods and services and cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services in America through its retail drugstores, Walgreens Health Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc., Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC and SeniorMed LLC (a pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). Walgreens Health and Wellness division includes Take Care Health Systems, the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country. (www.walgreens.com)

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SOURCE AARP

Source: PR Newswire

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