SALISBURY -- Peninsula Regional Medical Center and the Wicomico County Board of Education have announced three-time United States Olympic gymnast, gold medalist and health advocate Dominique Dawes will serve as the guest speaker at HealthFest: An event for all ages, on Saturday, March 31.

This year’s event, a showcase of healthy exhibits and health screenings, is free and open to the public at James M. Bennett High School on College Avenue in Salisbury. HealthFest: An event for all ages will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Dawes was an elite Olympic gymnast who competed and medaled in three consecutive Olympic Games and became the first African-American gymnast to win a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

After years of dedication to gymnastics, this graduate of the University of Maryland, and current student at George Washington University's Business School, retired to focus on her passion to encourage, educate and motivate others. She is an accomplished motivational speaker and blogger and is also the co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.

Dawes will speak at 11:30 a.m. on fitness and staying healthy. The first 200 people into the Bennett gymnasium for the presentation that morning will be provided an opportunity to meet Dawes at a one-hour photo and autograph session following her appearance.

In addition, over 30 different, free health screenings, performed by PRMC healthcare specialists and other area healthcare providers, will be available to anyone looking to find out how healthy they actually are, and to learn what they can do to lead a healthier and more productive lifestyle. ABI-Lower Body Circulation Screening and Prostate Screening require advance registration. Registration will be open through Friday, March 16 from 9 a.m.-noon or until all available appointments have been filled by calling 410-543-7139.  

At various times during the event, HealthFest will also offer participants a fun walk, a K-9 demonstration, a rock climbing wall and obstacle course, a health corner for kids and much more.

The daVinci Surgical System Robot will be on exhibit, giving anyone interested a “hands on” opportunity to test the robot, and see, first-hand, how the technology is used at PRMC during revolutionary cutting edge surgeries.