Health and fitness

To have an event listed in this calendar, e-mail the details at least two weeks in advance of the event or registration deadline to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com. Please put "Health & fitness" in the subject line.

National Alliance on Mental Illness: Support group for persons over 18 with any form of mental illness meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays at Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Arlington Heights. (847) 899-0195. Another group meets 7-9 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Kenneth Young Center, 1001 Rohlwing Road, Elk Grove Village. For information, (630) 529-3037 or (630) 302-2530.

Grief to Hope Group: 9:30-11 a.m., fourth Tuesday of the month; Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 West Central Road. The Center for Loss and Hope at Hospice of Northeastern Illinois offers regular drop-in groups to help those dealing with the death of a loved one. To register or for more information on the groups or Hospice of Northeastern Illinois' Center for Loss and Hope, call (847) 381-5599, or e-mail nbillman@HospiceAnswers.org.

NAMI Elk Grove-Schaumburg Connections group: 7-9 p.m. Fridays, Alexian Brothers Behavior Hospital, 1650 Moon Lake Dr., Hoffman Estates. An opportunity for people with any mental illness to connect with others and learn how best to cope and find recovery. Carol (847) 352-6708.

Freedom from Panic and Anxiety: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2, Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Unit 114, Arlington Heights. Learn how anxiety disorders develop; the warning signs of panic attacks and what to do about them; and how to overcome the thoughts, feeling and physical symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. To register, call Lori, (847) 952-7460, ext. 5701.

Fall Fest 5k/10k Race: 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, Heritage Park, next to the Wheeling Park District Community Recreation Center, 333 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling. The 5K walk/run is $20 in advance, $25 on race day. The 10K walk/run costs $25 in advance, $30 on the race day. The 1.5 family walk starts at 10:10 a.m. and is $15 in advance, $20 on the day of the walk. Register at wheelingparkdistrict.com/WPDparks/parks.htm or at the Wheeling Park District. Pick up bib numbers and race packets from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Wheeling Park District. Race day registration will be accepted from 8-9:45 a.m.

Arthritis exercise program: 1:15-2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Oct. 6 through Nov. 12; Lutheran General Fitness Center, 1875 West Dempster St., Suite G01, Park Ridge. Course fees are $63. Participants must contact their physicians before starting to find out if any special precautions are necessary. For details and to register call (847) 723-6138.

Race as part of the Clearbrook Bank of America Chicago Marathon team: 8 a.m. Oct. 8; Grant Park, Chicago. Register at www.chicagomarathon.com. For questions on how to support Clearbrook and be a runner, call Chrissy at (847) 385-5302 or marathon@clearbrook.org.

Breast Health: 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 12; Park Ridge Park District South Park Recreation Center, 833 W. Talcott Road. Presented by breast health experts from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital's Caldwell Breast Center. Topics include: normal breast development, benign breast problems, breast self-exams and mammography and what women can do to stay healthy. To register, call (800) 323-8622 and mention code 8W32.