Walgreens launches Way to Well Health Tour with AARP

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens will provide prevention and screening services to adults in underserved communities in a program it is sponsoring with AARP, the company said Thursday.

The chain announced the launch of the Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP, which will last through December and provide free tests, assessment, education and consulting to communities in cities with the highest prevalence of such diseases as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Tests will include cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, body composition, skeletal muscle, resting metabolism, visceral fat, real body age and body weight. The tour will include four customized vehicles that will travel separate regions of the United States, including Puerto Rico.

The tour is part of the chain's Way to Well Commitment, a four-year program on which it will spend $100 million. Through Jan. 31, 2013, the company will put 1 cent from the purchase of every private-label health-and-wellness product toward the Walgreens Way to Well Fund, for up to $3 million per year.

"Way to Well reflects our commitment to disease prevention and to improving everyday health through education and early detection," Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson said. "With AARP, the nationwide traveling health tour is one way we deliver on our pledge to improve lives by providing underserved communities greater access to the resources they need."