Local organizations partner for Coalfields Community Health Fair

NEWS RELEASE - October 16, 2026

Local organizations partner for Coalfields Community Health Fair

BECKLEY, W.Va. - Beckley ARH Hospital, Raleigh General Hospital and 59 News and agencies with the Beckley Partnership for Community Health will join forces again on Oct. 21 to present the annual Coalfields Community Health Fair.

The event, now in its fourth year, will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

More than 60 vendors will offer a variety of services including mental health, cancer, stroke, blood pressure, dental, and diabetes screenings. The Raleigh County Health Department will also be on-site offering free flu and Covid-19 vaccines. Additionally, vendors from throughout the region will offer educational information on a wide range of topics including women's health, Hospice care, cancer care, and rehabilitation services.

The popular "Snack Chat" series will take place throughout the day as visitors are invited to grab a seat and a snack while learning about a variety of healthcare issues ranging from advanced directives to bariatric services and healthful eating.

Both Raleigh General Hospital CEO David Brash and Beckley ARH CEO Todd Howell said they look forward to this annual event as it provides an opportunity for local healthcare organizations to work together in pursuit of a common goal.

"At the end of the day, our shared mission is to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve," Brash said. "Our partnership with Appalachian Regional Hospital reflects the belief that healthcare organizations can accomplish more when we work together. This is about sharing resources and creating opportunities for our neighbors to access valuable health information and services.

"We're grateful to continue this partnership for a fourth year and look forward to making a meaningful difference in our community."

Howell agreed, adding, "We focus every day on providing the highest quality care possible to our patients, but we know our services must extend far beyond the four walls of our hospitals and our clinics. This health fair, and our partnership with Raleigh General and other community partners, provides us with another opportunity to help eliminate the barriers to access faced by so many in southern West Virginia.

"So, we just want to encourage everyone to come out, learn more and take advantage of the valuable resources that can help them lead healthier lives."

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About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system - a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH's hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.