Stewart serves as Heart Walk honoree
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Stewart knows from a personal standpoint the value of heart disease research having had multiple-bypass surgery in October, 2004.
“It’s made all the difference,” Stewart said. “For the last several years the advancement in heart treatment and heart surgery, bypass surgery, replacement of valves and all those things, is absolutely astounding. It’s almost unimaginable the things they can do.
“With all the equipment that they have, the tests that they can run, the things they can do. It’s just, well, it’s almost unbelievable. So we’ve got so much to be grateful for.”
The annual Heart Walk is the AHA’s signature fund-raising event. The event promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun, family environment. According to the AHA Web site, this year over 1,000,000 walkers will participate in more than 600 events across the country, raising funds to save lives from the country’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, heart disease and stroke.
Warren County’s event will start at McMinnville City Hall, better known as the Blue Building. Pre-registration is at 9 a.m., and the walk will begin at 10 a.m. with walkers setting out from city hall and following a route that winds down around the greenway to Riverfront Park and back up to city hall.
Stewart says heart research, particularly heart bypass surgery, has affected numerous local residents.
“It’s amazing how many people in our community have bypass surgery,” Stewart said. “And most of them get along wonderfully well. Quick recovery. After a little while they’re back to normal, and that’s just really fine.
“And this has been brought about by research,” Stewart said, “and it takes a lot of money, of course, to do that and that, basically, is what the Heart Walk is all about, the promotion of giving to the heart fund so they can do more research and be of even greater help to people.”
As part of the Heart Walk fund-raiser several local restaurants will be taking donations from diners tomorrow for the American Heart Association. The following eateries will be participating: New York Grill, Arby’s, Billy’s Restaurant, Burger King, Hardees, Medley’s Classic Diner, Pizza Hut, Logan Farm’s/Baskin Robbins, Applebee’s, Ryan’s, Shoney’s and Uncle John’s Kitchen.
Please visit these restaurants this Thursday and make your donation to the American Heart Association Heart Walk.