Thousands to Take Steps to Improve Health in Start! Midlands Heart Walk
February 21, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – February 20, 2009 — More than 5,000 Midlands area residents are expected to take steps to improve their heart health on March 28, 2009 when they participate in the American Heart Association’s Start! Midlands Heart Walk in Columbia.
The annual event, which raises funds to fight heart disease and stroke, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, are once again being led by local sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina. The non-competitive, three-mile walk will start at the Colonial Life Arena and includes teams of employees from local companies, along with friends and family members of all ages.
Carl Hoefel and Cable Best, both of BOSE Corporation, are co-chairs for this year’s Start! Midlands Heart Walk. “Brisk walking for as little as 30 minutes a day has proven health benefits, such as providing increased energy and circulation, as well as reduced risk of heart disease,” said Best. “The Start! Heart Walk is designed to help participants understand this critical message, join with others, and generate a renewed commitment to heart-healthy living through walking.”
Start! Midlands Heart Walk participants will experience three “villages” that feature relevant resources and activities.
The Create Hope Village will:
- Foster hope by bringing together people with similar experiences, sorrows and fears.
- Allow people to acknowledge their losses and pay tribute to loved ones.
- Provide an opportunity to honor survivors and individuals whose family and friends have been impacted by heart disease and stroke.
- Give survivors hope that they can influence their own and their loved ones’ destinies by connecting risk factors to a personal loss.
The Inspire Change Village will:
- Inspire participants to make changes in their daily behavior that reduce risk for heart disease and stroke, such as increasing physical activity and making heart-healthy choices a part of daily life.
- Inspire participants to make a long-term commitment in the fight against heart disease and stroke by volunteering for the American Heart Association.
The Celebrate Success Village will:
- Celebrate individuals and companies that have made significant changes to lead a heart-healthy life (e.g., by being more active, losing weight, etc.) or encourage employees to lead a healthier life.
- Highlight the successful fund-raising efforts of individuals and companies.
Each day, nearly 2,400 Americans die from a cardiovascular disease. That’s an average of one death every 37 seconds. During 2006, 9,004 South Carolinians died from heart disease. A leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke is lack of physical activity. Research has also found that individuals may gain two hours of life expectancy for every one hour of regular, vigorous exercise they do.
“We want people to know that it is never too late to ‘Start!’ down a healthier path,” said Hoefel. “Our hope is that the Start! Heart Walk will help jump start a culture of physical activity among participants and increase passion for supporting the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association.”
Last year, more than 1 million walkers raised more than $106 million in 425 Start! Heart Walks across the country. This year’s goal for the Midlands Heart Walk is $700,000.
Start! Heart Walk is nationally sponsored by Subway Restaurants®, Healthy Choice® and Astra Zeneca.
For information on participating in the Start! Heart Walk, call the American Heart Association at (803) 806-3092 or visit www.startmidlandssc.org.
About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, we’re the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. To help prevent, treat and defeat these diseases — America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers — we fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visitamericanheart.org.
