Reflecting on this day I think it was the commencement of a new way of life and new partnerships to finally raise the health of our state.

The day kicked off at 8am with the amazing CTFM which is offering our amazing SNAP Double Bucks program to help families with food insecurity regain and sustain health. Food front and center for health.not health care. I took some amazing produce and of course some eggs home.

I am proud we do offer great health care locally when you need it. At 9 a.m. we kicked off the first Walk with a Doc in the state where health care workers take the “Medical Home” into the “Medical Home’s Backyard,” the place where real health happens. Dr’s Maddie Humerick, Dave Baltierra, Rosemarie Lorenzetti, and Kim Nguyen joined myself and our fearless leader Paul Koczera.

The Main Event was the first Bros and Bras WV Day 5k. This was wild. Runners with weight vests, kids, senior members, a ton of minimal runners, even some fellow barefooters.all lined up to celebrate fun and community.

The course looped back on itself a few times so you could high five friends. I have not run an event with pack and was glad to ditch the 20 pound kettlebell after the run.

Even more refreshing were random people coming up to me telling me stories of how they have lost their 20 plus pound kettlebells around their bellies by reducing carbs.

Yes large majority of us in West Virginia have either insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome/obesity/ prediabetes/Diabetes .all a form of carbohydrate intolerance. Yes these can be reversed and the food at the Farmers Market is where to find the way.

Many thanks to Kevin and Jennie Brakens and the Bros and Bras Crew, Fiona Harrison, Two Rivers Treads, my colleagues at Jefferson Medical Center and Harpers Ferry Family Medicine, and Freedoms Run and all the other creating this health and happiness movement. If you are not healthy it’s hard to be happy.

Hope every day from this day forward carries today’s flag.