Approximately 4,500 people took part in the 2018 Rochester Heart Walk & Run, raising awareness and money for the American Heart Association.
Nearly 2,200 people die from cardiovascular diseases every single day, averaging one death every 40 seconds. The 10-year goal is to improve cardiovascular health by 20 percent and reduce deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent.
“No one can say they haven’t been affected by heart disease or stroke in this area. It is the number one cause of death. We have a lot of research to fund; we have a lot of community awareness activities from all our work. A lot of things have to happen in this community and unfortunately without the dollars we can’t implement the missions,” said Marc Natale, Executive Director of the American Heart Association.
Many people who participate in the Heart Walk & Run have a personal connection to someone with a heart disease. For one family, it was their daughter who underwent her first heart surgery when she was just a baby.
“It’s just important that we stay involved in part of it. It’s touched our life and to just have something happen and say you know what, I’m past it, just doesn’t feel right,” said Rob Williamson, particapant.
Rob's daughter, Miranda, is a Junior at Saint John Fisher College. Through her recovery process she found that going into cardiology was her calling.
“She walked all around the ward and she just said I need to be part of this, I am part of this because physically I am part of this, but she saw the babies and the people and said this is what God is telling me to do,” added Williamson.
The Rochester American Heart Association is proud that funds raised are dedicated to supporting local efforts including:
- A healthier Rochester community.
- Increasing opportunities for advocacy, sharing of public health information, dissemination of educational tools and serve as a platform for local survivors to share their stories.
- Increasing research and scientific studies within the American Heart Association helping to reach their 2020 goal.
- Overall furthering of the organization's lifesaving mission.
You can donate to the Spectrum News team page on our website.
Spectrum News is a proud supporter of the Rochester Heart Walk & Run Media Challenge.