Walking Can Help Save Your Life – Join The American Heart Walk!
August 25, 2010 -
Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 3 killers in this country. Every 33 seconds someone dies from heart disease. The American Heart Walk offers an opportunity to get outdoors, have fun with friends or loved ones, and have the satisfaction of knowing that the few hours spent walking will make a big impact in the fight against heart disease and stroke right here in Hanover.
Now in its sixth year the Hanover walk will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, 2010, and will begin at the Hanover Area Family YMCA, located at 500 N. George Street. Registration begins at 12 noon, followed by an opening ceremony program at 12:45 p.m.
The Hanover event will once again offer a 3-mile walk (with 1-mile alternate route) that focuses attention on exercise as an important part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. More than 400 walkers throughout York County, representing local company teams, schools, community groups, and family and friends are expected to participate. The event promises to be all about celebrating survivorship, creating hope, inspiring change, and celebrating success.
Local businesses and their employees can help to help fight against heart disease and stroke by forming company teams and supporting the Heart Walk as a corporate sponsor. Individual walkers of all ages are also encouraged to participate. Some of the walkers participate to honor survivors…others may walk in memory of a loved one or friend. Many of the walkers in the Heart Walk are heart disease and stroke survivors. Survivors are specially recognized with red caps, showing that they are fighting back against the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers – heart disease and stroke.
Last year’s corporate sponsors and walkers in York County raised a total of $90,000. This year, Hanover and York County event coordinators and volunteers are working with corporate sponsors, teams and individual walkers to reach a combined goal of $112,000. Co-chairs for the year’s events are Kim Capone from the Hanover Area Family YMCA and Chris Stottlemyer from Memorial Hospital.
The Walk is a national American Heart Association event held in over 450 locations nationwide. This year’s goal is to have over 1,000,000 participants nationwide. Subway is a proud national sponsor. Local sponsors to date include: Hanover Hospital, WellSpan Health-York Hospital, Memorial Hospital, HealthSouth Rehabilitation of York, Glatfelter Insurance Group, Aesera Care, and Heart & Vascular Center at Memorial Hospital. Media sponsors include the Media One, WGAL and WSOX 96.1.
The American Heart Association works hard in our communities, providing medical research, education for physicians, public awareness campaigns, and public education programs to help reduce risk factors and warning signs. The AHA also provides on-line outreach services through toll-free phone numbers and Internet websites. The York County Heart Walk will take place at two locations with the first date being September 26 at the Hanover Area YMCA Association, and then on October 3rd at the John Rudy County Park.
Online team registration is now underway. For more information about participating as an individual, forming a team, or making a donation, please visit the York County Heart Walk website at www.heartwalk.kintera.org/yorkpa. You may also contact Kim Capone, at the Hanover Area YMCA, (717) 632-8211, or kcapone@hanoverymca.org; or Wade Markel, at (717) 207-4281, or wade.markel@heart.org.
Meet Angie Staub, the 2010 Hanover Heart Walk “Face of Heart”
Angie, a 35-year old lifelong Hanover resident, underwent a heart transplant on September 28, 2009. Born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), Angie was diagnosed soon after her first well-baby check-up. Growing up, her activities were always restricted. She was unable to participate in gym class at school, and up until the time of the transplant she could not walk 30 or 40 steps without becoming extremely tired.
Following the successful heart transplant and recovery period, Angie participated in Hanover Hospital’s Cardiac Rehab program, where, for the first time in her life, she was able to exercise. Thanks to the exercise she became strong enough to do more of the everyday activities we all take for granted, such as household chores and cooking – things for which she always relied on others for assistance. She is also now able to care for her loved ones.
In celebration of her one-year heart transplant anniversary, Angie looks forward to meeting TNA wrestling heavyweight Jeff Hardy at the York Fair – a special gift from her husband. She is participating in the Heart Walk in honor of her donor and the donor’s family, whom she has not yet met. “When I was diagnosed years ago,” said Angie, “My parents were told that a heart transplant would not be possible.” As the AHA’s Face of Heart, she hopes to raise awareness about Congenital Heart Disease, and about the amazing technology available today that made the transplant, and her active new life, possible.