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FAIRFIELD, IOWA -- Members of the Fairfield community hit the links Friday to support diabetes awareness.

The Jefferson County Health Center Foundation holds a gold tournament each year to raise money for a different cause. This year, one of the organization's goals is to spread the word about diabetes and be able to provide more free screenings and education to the community.

"Right now, we're just getting our program up and going, but we go to businesses and to clubs and do education and offer free screenings," said Staci Worley, Assistant Outpatient Director at Jefferson County Health Center. "And so that's what we're doing here and trying to reach everybody within the community."

Two nurses from JCHC will be at the Kid's Parade in downtown Fairfield Saturday morning from 6-9 a.m., giving free screenings to anyone who is interested in being tested. With cases of diabetes on the rise, early screening is an important part of diagnosis and management of diabetes.

"Diabetes continue to rise every year and it's a disease that affects multiple systems throughout the body," said Curtis Smith, Director of Outpatient Services. "More and more people are being diagnosed with diabetes, and people you wouldn't expect to have diabetes are being diagnosed with diabetes, and younger and younger. We're seeing even as young as adolescents with diabetes now."

If you would like to donate to the Jefferson County Health Center Foundation, you can contact them at 472-4111.