Improve your health and overall well-being with tips from this year's Wellness Celebration, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Prince of Orange Mall.

There, you can get screenings for everything from blood pressure to sugar to cholesterol, give blood at the Regional Medical Center's bloodmobile and pick up information from local churches, nonprofits, first responders, health organizations, banks, businesses and others.

This is the sixth year for the celebration, sponsored by the RMC, WORG 100.3 FM, Priority Home Medical and the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

"We get several thousand people coming through there every year, easily," said Jim Johnson Jr., owner of Priority Home Medical and one of the event organizers. "Throughout the day, people are coming in and out. The RMC is generous enough to provide 12 of their departments, so they have a huge presence there, as far as the health and screening aspect goes.

"The celebration is actually a holistic approach -- spiritual, economic and community. It's a place where you can go to get information about your health and overall wellness, and talk with people who are experts."

In addition to the more than 50 vendors expected at the event, live entertainment including dancing, gymnastics, martial arts and music will be on display in Center Court. And the kids will have their own entertainment through a bounce castle and "Touch a Truck," a new event where kids can get an up-close look at all sorts of trucks -- from fire trucks to dump trucks -- and talk with the experts who operate them.

Johnson said the Wellness Celebration 5K Run will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed at 9:30 a.m. by the Edisto Health Coalition Mall Walk. He said walkers will be split into groups and given tips during their excursion around the mall. At the walk's conclusion, participants will get a free smoothie.

All events and screenings at the Wellness Celebration are free and open to the community. Vendors will be spread throughout the mall.

"The mall's a good venue for this event. People are coming through the mall anyway, especially this time of year with back-to-school shopping," Johnson said. "We get a lot of people just walking through the mall and saying, 'Wow, I didn't know this would be here today,' who get blood pressure and other screenings. ... It's a great resource."

2009 Wellness Celebration entertainment schedule

10 a.m. -- Opening and prayer by Brandon Hicks and Bill Connor

10:15 a.m. -- "Orangeburg's Got Talent ... Kids!" finalists

10:30 a.m. -- God's CopyCats

11 a.m. -- High Steppin Cloggers

11:30 a.m. -- American Gymnastics & Fitness Center

Noon -- Orangeburg Queen and Princesses of Roses

12:15 p.m. -- Orangeburg Part-Time Players -- Daryl Cate

1 p.m. -- Orangeburg Line Dancers

1:15 p.m. -- Tamalyn's Dance Centre

1:30 p.m. -- Damon Howard

1:45 p.m. -- Pure Joy

Emcee: Jim Johnson Jr.

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