The Piedmont Out Walking (POW!) program, a three-month team walking competition aimed at promoting healthy living, will take place beginning March 13. The goal for the competition is to see which team can walk the farthest in the three months allotted.

The program is free for participants and has a deadline to apply on March 8. Interested participants can contact Piedmont Community Health Coalition (PCHC) Coordinator Erica Tedder at (434) 414-3036, ext. 114, or by email at Erica.Tedder@vdh.virginia.gov to receive the application; it can also be found online at www.piedmontcommunityhealthcoalition.wordpress.com.

The program requires each team be a maximum of eight people and have a team leader, according to program officials.

This year, the program will return for the first time since 2013 — the first time the program was held.

The 2013 program ended with the High Bridge Trail Challenge which featured a motivational speaker, healthy cooking and wholesome food demonstrations, health screenings and a Zumba class, according to the press release.

“We had 500 people sign up for POW!, which is incredible for this area,” said Dr. Alexander

Samuel, health director for the Piedmont Health District.

According to the coalition’s press release, community members interested in disease prevention decided to formally organize following the first POW! and created the PCHC.

The coalition is made up of state agencies, non-profit organizations, community health leaders and citizens.

The group’s mission, according to the release, is to promote healthy lifestyles for individuals, families and communities through a collaborative effort focused on the Piedmont Health District, which includes Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway and Prince Edward.