American Heart Association raises $35,000 locally

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard

Brothers Branden and Chayten Wright braved the summer heat to accompany their parents, Shanee and Braylen, to the Heart Walk which started out at City Hall last weekend. (Photo provided)

The American Heart Association (AHA) had another successful year here in Warren County with its annual Heart Walk fund-raiser, bringing in $35,000 in local donations to aid in heart disease and stroke research. An estimated 150 to 200 showed up last Saturday morning for the event and organizers were pleased with the turnout considering attendees were braving temperatures that reached a high of 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the hottest day in August to that point, according to local weather statistics.

But River Park’s Susan Barrett said organizers were well prepared for the hot weather.

“We’ve made sure we have plenty of water on hand,” Barrett said at the event. “We’ve got the EMS crews out here just in case. We’ve got people keeping an eye on them, and we’re going to make sure it’s a safe walk this year. And we’d like to offer a special thanks to the Youth Act Club, and Interact representative, for organizing and handing out water bottles today and just making sure everybody’s hydrated.”

Attendees enjoyed a number of activities and tests including a free blood pressure check and an outstanding performance by Team Legacy, a martial arts exhibition team led by Paul Byars from Gary Steele Karate.

AHA regional director Chad Darling said the event is an important part of the fight against heart disease and stroke.

“Heart disease and stroke, the two main focuses of the American Heart Association, are the No. 1 and No. 3 killers in America,” Darling said. “So it’s pretty vital. And the American Heart Association provides a lot of education, community projects, research, the development of protocols and guidelines that folks like those at River Park will use to advance the fight against heart disease.”

Heart Walk Red Cap Honoree, and heart bypass surgery patient, Nestor Stewart spoke to the assembled crowd about the importance of supporting research and the difference it had made in his life.

Heart Walk chairman Bryan Kell said the event is very much a cooperative effort.

“I thought it went fantastic,” Kell said. “Big thanks again this year go out to River Park Hospital and the job that Susan Barrett and their crew does out there every year as far as helping us pull the walk off.”

Kell says the money raised by events such as the Heart Walk is vital to heart disease research.

“Any way that we can help raise money in any capacity to help combat this terrible disease is going to pay off in the future for us,” Kell said.