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LEWISTON — Teams of families, friends and co-workers are preparing for the American Heart Association’s 19th annual Central Maine Heart Walk, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at Lewiston’s Simard-Payne Park.
The event is the organization’s largest in central Maine, drawing hundreds of walkers to fundraise and celebrate heart health, according to a news release from the heart association.
This year’s fundraising goal is $115,000, money that will support the AHA’s research, education and advocacy efforts. Guest survivor speakers, heart-healthy food, children’s activities, and educational exhibits all aim to inspire people to lower their risk for cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Channel 8 WMTW’s Tracy Sabol will serve as the Heart Walk/Run emcee.
The walk takes place rain or shine, beginning with an 8:30 a.m. breakfast and registration, 9:15 a.m. kickoff ceremonies and speeches, and then the walk and a 5k run at 9:30 a.m.
Heart disease survivors will wear special red caps and stroke survivors will wear white caps as a testament to the research that helped saved their lives, the release said. Children who have survived congenital heart defects will wear Heart Hero red capes, drawing attention to the fact that heart defects are the leading birth defect.
Heart diseases and stroke – the nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers – claim nearly 787,000 American lives a year, the AHA said. AHA-funded research has yielded or contributed to many important advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease. In Maine, the AHA funds two research grants, implements its Jump Rope for Heart program at 165 schools, and has nine hospitals using its patient outcome/quality programs.
For more information, visit www.heart.org/maine.
