Revere held its second annual Health and Wellness Night, where participants attended workshops to learn about how to improve their health and wellness.

The event included food trucks, information booths, therapy animals, a magic show and workshops meant to improve people’s health and wellness.

Bonnie Simonelli, at risk student coordinator, spoke about the goal of the event.

“The goal is to provide the community with information, resources, and a fun event that they can participate in and learn from,” Simonelli said.

Internationally recognized magician, Rick Smith Jr., performed for around 175 people in the auxiliary gym. Smith is well known for his three world records for throwing a playing card the farthest, highest and most accurately.

Debbie Higgins, Founder of Kids for Kids and the Carson Higgins Memorial Foundation, spoke about how the Revere Health and Wellness event started.

“It was started when a student in the Revere High School Kids 4 Kids club expressed her concern about anxiety and stress in teenagers,” Higgins said.

Workshops at the event focused on a variety of ways to improve health and wellness. In one session, Maria Manning, a registered dietitian, spoke about what effects diet has on mental and physical well being. She explains that many of the diseases humans can acquire can be prevented or brought on by diet. 

In her talk “Skip the Sugar. . . You’re sweet enough already” she focuses on the effects sugar has on the body.

Manning commented on how teens can change their diet to incorporate less sugar.

“A 20 ounce bottle of Mountain Dew has nineteen teaspoons of sugar and Gatorade nine teaspoons.  These are ways we quickly consume sugar without even thinking about it. An easy switch is to infuse drinking water with orange slices or berries, or even mint leaves,” Manning said.

Other workshops focused on teaching attendees how to be mindful. Mindfulness is a skill that can be practiced.

Jen Hayes, Mindfulness instructor, spoke about the importance of being mindful in today’s world.

“In our constantly changing, rapid-pace, instant gratification based world, it is vitally important that people recognize when their mind and/or body is sending out physiological signs of stress and anxiety,” Hayes said.

At the end of the night,  a glow run, announced by Mr. King was held. Participants ran or walked around the track wearing glow bracelets and Carson Strong glow necklaces provided by the Carson Higgins Memorial Foundation.