The health and fitness calendar is a listing of support groups, activities and lectures. Send information to Health Calendar, The Augusta Chronicle Newsroom, P.O. Box 1928, Augusta, GA 30903-1928. Send information by fax to 722-7403 and send e-mail to ryan.wehmeyer@augusta chronicle.com. Please include a contact name and phone number.

SPECIAL

JOINT EFFORTS: 11-11:45 a.m. Thursdays; Augusta Orthopaedic Clinic, 1521 Anthony Road; seminar on hip and knee pain, tips for treatment, medicine, food, exercise; register, 481-7604.

CPR AND FIRST AID CLASSES: First aid, 6 tonight; Augusta Red Cross, 1322 Ellis St.; $35; 724-8481.

FREE CAREGIVER SEMINAR: 4:30-5:30 today; Jud C. Hickey Adult Day Center, 1901 Central Ave.; Amee Brown will speak; presented by the Augusta Regional Office of the Alzheimer's Association; 731-9060.

open house: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; Psychology Spirituality Center, 616 4th St.; entertainment and food; 828-7548.

CRADLE CLUB CLASSES (J. DEWEY GRAY CIRCLE LOCATION): 7-9:30 Mondays, through March 13, March 20-April 24; Thursdays, March 28, April 11-May16: Prepared Childbirth; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 18: Express Prepared Childbirth; 2- 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 19: Baby's Brother and Sister; Medical Office Building 1, Cradle Club Classroom, Suite 110, 3623 J. Dewey Gray Circle; registration is required; 651-6220.

FREE LUNCH-AND-LEARN: noon Thursday, March 9; Medical College of Georgia Alumni Center, 919 15th St.; attorney Russell Mobley will discuss powers of attorney and medical directives; for families and caregivers of Alzheimer's patients; 721-0609.

CRADLE CLUB CLASSES (WHEELER ROAD LOCATION): 1-2 p.m. Saturday, March 11: infant massage; 4-6 p.m. Sunday, March 19: baby care class; 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23: breast-feeding class; Medical Office Building 1, Doctors Hospital, Cradle Club Classroom, Suite 110, 3651 Wheeler Road; registration is required; 651-6220.

Growing into womanhood: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 25; Doctors Hospital, 3651 Wheeler Road; for girls 13-16 and their mothers or a female relative; sexuality, peer pressure, substance abuse and confident decision-making skills will be taught; Medical Office Building 1, Doctors Hospital, Cradle Club Classroom, Suite 110, 3651 Wheeler Road; 651-6220.

SEMINARS, CLASSES

Epilepsy Support Group for Children: 10 a.m. third Saturdays, University Hospital Education Center, third floor; for infants through elementary school-age children; 863-5557.

BETTER BREATHERS: 11:30 a.m. second Tuesdays; University Hospital Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center, St. Sebastian Way at 13th Street; bring covered dish; 774-5864.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS MEETINGS: Various meetings throughout the week; types of meetings: open discussion, closed discussion (addicts only), open text study, open literature study, step study, smoking, nonsmoking; wheelchair accessible; 855-2419.

OBESITYHELP.COM WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT: 2 p.m. Saturdays, Euchee Creek Library, 5907 Euchee Creek Drive, Grovetown; 364-2266.

TAKE OFF THE POUNDS SENSIBLY WEIGHT SUPPORT GROUP: 6 p.m. Thursdays, Grovetown United Methodist Church, 206 Robinson Ave.; 863-0726, 863-5678.

ALZHEIMER'S CARE: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer's Care; 738-5039.

ACUPUNCTURE: Monday-Friday; provided by licensed Chinese acupuncturist Xiande Yi; Walton Rehabilitation Hospital's Outpatient Building; by appointment; $60; 823-5294.

ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays; Alzheimer's Association, Augusta chapter, 1899 Central Ave.; 731-9060.

ARTHRITIS AQUATICS: 9- 9:45 a.m., 10-10:45 a.m. and 12:15-1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; Walton Rehabilitation Hospital's Outpatient Building; $37.50 a month; 823-5294.

FIBROMYALGIA AQUATICS: Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays; Walton Rehabilitation Hospital's Outpatient Building; $32 a month; 823-5294.

MASSAGE: Monday-Friday; Walton Rehabilitation Hospital's Outpatient Building; by appointment; $35, 30 minutes; $65, one hour; 823-5294.

BARIATRIC SUPPORT: 5:30 p.m. first Mondays, University Hospital Weight Management and Nutrition Center, on St. Sebastian Street and 13th Street; 774-8917.

BRAIN-INJURY SUPPORT: 6 p.m. second Thursdays; Walton West, 2501 Center West Parkway; 737-9300.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR EXERCISE: 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays, Walton Rehabilitation Hospital Classroom; 823-5294.

BREAST-FEEDING CLASSES: 7-9 p.m. March 13, April 10, May 13, June 10; Children's Medical Center Conference Center, first floor, 1447 Harper St.; registration required; 721-9351

BREAST SELF-EXAM CLASSES: 4 p.m. second Mondays; Breast Health Center, Professional Center 2, Suite 205, 1350 Walton Way; free; registration required; 774-4141.

CANCER SHARE SUPPORT: 7 p.m. first Mondays; University Hospital, Cancer Learning Center, Professional Center 2, Suite 104,1350 Walton Way; registration required; 774-7000.

CANCER SUPPORT: 6 p.m. Mondays after third Sundays; Mount Calvary Baptist Church; 724-8052.

CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE SUPPORT: 11:30 a.m. second Tuesdays; University Hospital Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center, 1350 Walton Way; 774-5864.

FREE WOMEN'S HEALTH CLINIC: 6-8 p.m. first, third and fifth Tuesdays, Salvation Army and Welfare Center, 1383 Greene St.; Pap smears, breast exams, diagnosis and STDs treatment; 828-3444.

HIV/AIDS HEALTH SCREENS: 5:30-8 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays, by appointment; Community Awareness and Prevention Program, 1829 Wrightsboro Road; second, fourth Wednesdays at CARE, 1138A Druid Park Ave. and St. Vincent DePaul Health Clinic, 1384 Greene St.; includes drug, alcohol, wellness counselling; free; 364-6135.

HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE SUPPORT: 6-8 p.m. last Tuesdays; Medical College of Georgia, Marks Building, 1429 Harper St.; 721-2798.

KIDNEY DISEASE STUDY: Those with adult diabetes with mild kidney disease might qualify for clinical trial; receive study medication, study-related tests at no charge; 721-7405.

LOOK GOOD, FEEL BETTER: 5-7 p.m. third Mondays, beginning Jan. 16; American Cancer Society office, 2623 Washington Road; teaches female cancer patients how to maintain appearance and self-image during treatment; registration required; 731-9900.

LYMPHOMA EDUCATION: 5 p.m. first Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 3; University Hospital, Breast Health Center, Professional Center 2, Suite 205, 1350 Walton Way; for breast cancer surgery patients; free; registration required; 774-4141.

MORNING FITNESS: 8:45-9:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; members only; Doctors Hospital, Building III, 1305 Interstate Parkway; 651-6716.

PARENTS HEALING TOGETHER: 7 p.m. first Mondays; University Hospital Women's Center fourth-floor classroom, 1350 Walton Way; for parents, families who have lost infants through miscarriage, death, stillbirth; 774-2751.

REHAB PLUS: 8:30-10 a.m., 1- 2:30 p.m., 2:30-4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; $30 a month; 8:30-10 a.m., 10-11 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, with pool hours 9-10 a.m.; $20 a month; pool only class 8-9 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays; $15; Walton Rehabilitation Hospital; includes supervision, weights, aerobic equipment, individual exercise programs

STROKE SUPPORT: 1-2 p.m. last Wednesdays, Walton Rehabilitation Hospital, 1355 Independence Drive; 823-5213.

UNITED HOSPICE OF AUGUSTA: Lend support to terminally ill patients; Kim Jones, 650-1522.

WHEELCHAIR EQUIPMENT CLINIC: 1-3:30 p.m. third Mondays and second Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m. fourth Thursdays, Augusta Rehabilitation Associates Building; 722-1244.

SEEDS FOR LIFE: 1 p.m. Wednesdays; for location, call 774-5802.

STROLLER STRIDES: Stroller fitness classes for mothers and caregivers to work out with their children; classes designed to accommodate all levels of exercisers, taught by certified instructors; (800) 569-1642.

HEALTHY KIDS

CAR-SEAT EDUCATION: First Fridays; Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center; offered by SAFE KIDS of East Central Georgia; 721-5437.

WEE WISDOM: Free parenting sessions for families with children 5 and younger; noon Wednesdays, Children's Medical Center Family Resource Library, 1446 Harper St.; topics include discipline, nutrition, keeping children healthy and safe, child care, disabled children; 721-KIDS.

SPECIAL SERVICES

AMERICAN RED CROSS: Open for donations noon to 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays; Blood Collections Center, 106 Pleasant Home Road, LePavilion Plaza shopping center.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: 860-8331.

AUGUSTA LUPUS SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 p.m. first Mondays, University Hospital Education Building, 1350 Walton Way; Vera L. Butler, 772-9001.

GRANITEVILLE COMMUNITY HEALTH EVALUATIONS AND REGISTRY: Phone lines open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; for victims of the Graniteville train chemical release; (803) 641-3332.

GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER SUPPORT: 7-8:30 p.m. second Tuesdays; The Clubhouse, on Washington Road, across from the Augusta National; 721-3992.