Neighborhood news: Fun, health, wellness at Gateway

Grab your running shoes and head over to Virginia Gateway's Atlas Walk in Gainesville this Saturday for the Gateway's first Family Fun Health and Wellness Event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Marque at Heritage Hunt, an active adult rental community in Gainesville and the Peterson Companies, the developer of Virginia Gateway, are joining with The Running Store, Fairfax OB-GYN Associates, American Dental Associates and Prince William Oral, Maxillofacial and Dental Implant Surgery in sponsoring the event.

The day will begin with a 100-meter fun run/walk for seniors at 9 a.m., followed by a 100-meter fun run/walk for kids at 9:30 a.m. and then a performance by the Bull Run Cloggers at 11 a.m.

Throughout the event, there will be health screenings, entertainment including a Zumba demonstration, health and wellness workshops, a moon bounce, a cooking demonstration by Chef Mike Peterson, an expert on locally grown food fresh from the farm to the kitchen, the Senior Olympics and more.

For more information on the event, call 703-227-1240 or visit www.VAGateway.com. For more information on The Marque at Heritage Hunt, call 703-795-7711, or visit their web site at www.themarque55.com.

Convoy of Hope in need of volunteers, donations

On Aug. 29 at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, gates will open at 10 a.m. for 8,000 to 10,000 area residents needing groceries, health screenings, job seeking assistance and other services when Convoy of Hope brings its outreach efforts to Northern Virginia.

Convoy of Hope, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, collaborates with local churches and businesses to direct compassion initiatives in the United States and around the world.

The organization holds events in over 50 cities and 10 countries each year, has distributed more than $100 million of food to needy families in the United States and globally, has provided food and supplies to nearly 16 million people, has placed shelters, water purification units and other supplies around the world and has responded to disasters and crises in nearly 50 countries.

Convoy of Hope has mobilized more than 200,000 volunteers and over 5,000 organizations to offer assistance to families in need. Now, they need volunteers and donors in our area.

If you are interested in volunteering and/or need more information, call 703-625-9004, e-mail info@convoynova.org or visit the Convoy of Hope web site at www.convoyofhope.org.

Donations may be sent to:

NOVA Convoy of Hope

7371 Atlas Walk Way #618

Gainesville, VA 20155

She's going on vacation

Readers, I will be on vacation next week. Please continue to send e-mail, but don't be offended if I don't get back to you right away. Enjoy your week.

Katherine Gotthardt reports your neighborhood news from the Gainesville and Haymarket area every Wednesday in the News & Messenger. If you have news about birthdays, your family, your club or your HOA's activities, please send it to Katherine at kgotthardt@comcast.net.