On Saturday March 30th, 2019, the third annual Middleburg HEAL Fair & 5K race will kick off at town's Community Center on West Washington Street.

HEAL is an acronym for Healthy Eating Active Living, a Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. program spearheaded by the Institute for Public Health Innovation with Kaiser Permanente as its founding partner and major benefactor. HEAL Cities & Towns is an Institute for Public Health Innovation campaign which seeks to provide assistance to local governments, such as Middleburg, to help create 'healthy, prosperous community environments that promote healthy eating and active living in Maryland and Virginia's cities and towns'. Through its Go Green town committee, Middleburg has championed HEAL and the principles for which it stands, in order to create a greater health and wellness awareness for its citizens. In fact, the town quickly attained a Gold level status with HEAL Cities & Towns, and is actively pursuing the coveted Platinum status, achievements which are celebrated at the Virginia Municipal League's annual convention.

Following registration and packet pick up at the Community Center's Terrace Room beginning at 7.00 a.m., the 5K race, which includes a more relaxed fun run, kicks off at 8.00 a.m. behind the Community Center, on Stonewall Avenue, with a medals ceremony about an hour later, also in the Community Center. The race will take in the quaint eastern and western side streets of Middleburg, plus the lovely grounds of the Salamander Resort & Spa.

Concurrently at 9.00 a.m., the fair itself opens its doors to the public, featuring around two dozen booths with a range of health and wellness focused exhibitors, including nutrition experts, medical screening and awareness, fitness apparel, community activity groups and so much more.

This year, the fair will feature an important movie, to be screened in the Terrace Room, authored and produced by local Loudoun resident, Miriam Gennari, which investigates ugly truth about expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam), and its impact on our environment and our health.

You can keep updated regarding exhibitors, vendors and much more at the event's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/HEALExpo or at https://heal.middleburg.com/

There are a few booths still available if you, or anyone you know locally, has an interest in contributing to the HEAL Fair with a health and wellness centered table, plus sponsorship opportunities including your business logo on reusable bags which will be given out to all attendees as well as on the banners in the Community Center and, of course, on the website - contact the organizers at HEALFAIR2019@GMAIL.COM. Booths cost $25 each and a table is provided.

See you at the fair!!!