Suffolk Public Schools’ teacher Rose Jones says about 160 people have pre-registered for the Cavalier Challenge, and hopes many more will follow suit before the community health event next Saturday.

At Lakeland High School from 1 to 4 p.m., the fun event will include informational workshops, a special guest speaker, competitive challenges, Zumba, and free-style and line dancing, a news release states.

There will also be healthy snacks and drinks, prizes, and, though some will only be available for those older than 18, free health screenings for cholesterol, glucose and body mass index.

“We started planning for this in the summer,” said Rose Jones, who teaches the introduction to health occupations. “I went to the Medical Reserve Corps looking for volunteer activities.

“I found out we are in the diabetes belt. … We decided, as a service project, they (her students) wanted to bring this to people’s attention and promote health through change in diet and exercise.”

Event registration will begin at noon, followed by a welcome, appearances by the ROTC Color Guard and Ladies With Voices, and an address by guest speaker Greg Scott, a former NFL player and founder and CEO of Franklin-based Cover 3 Foundation.

Workshops, competitive events and medical screening will occur from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., after which door prizes, awards and closing remarks will take place before the event finishes at 4 p.m.

“I’m very excited,” said Alexis Griffin, one of Jones’ students who has been working on the event. “I hope that it encourages people to live better, healthier lifestyles (and) that they will go out more and be fitter.”

Jerrell Demiel, another student, said the event will be a lot of fun. He hopes it will help people “recognize that being healthy, even though it’s hard, you can also have fun at the same time. It’s not just blood, sweat and tears all the time.”

Jones said the event would really emphasis the fun factor, adding it’s the only way to get children and teens involved.

The event is free, but canned food donations for the Cover 3 Foundation are encouraged.

To pre-register, call Jones at the school on 925-5790.