Heart Walk fundraiser helping to end stroke and heart disease

Duluth is one of 300 different locations where the American Heart Association held their Heart Walk fundraiser. The funds raised will help research in life saving technology involving heart disease. The Heart Walk fundraiser was canceled last weekend, but over 100 participated in the newly scheduled walk.

Brianna Johnson, a development director with the American Heart Association, said the Heart Walk fundraiser is not a one day event. “We are walking, getting people out and about and getting healthy,” Johnson said. “We’re celebrating our hurt and stroke survivors and doing all of the things that we normally would do for a heart walk.”

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. according to 2020 data from the American Heart Association. However, fundraising efforts like the Heart Walk are helping to end heart disease and stroke. “We are still raising funds,” Johnson said. “In fact, people turned in donations today. It looks like we will generate about $120,000 for our lifesaving mission, which is a record.”

Kathleen Hein, one of the walkers at the Heart Walk fundraiser, said several of her family members passed away from heart disease. Although every year she continues walking to honor their memory. “I’ve done this now for 11 years and I will continue. I’m almost 65, but I will continue as long as I can, which is another 30 years,” Hein said.

Next year will be the American Heart Association’s 100^th anniversary. The Heart Walk fundraiser is taking place inside Fitger’s on September 28^th and it’ll happen rain or shine. “Put good shoes on. It doesn’t hurt,” Hein said. “Get out and walk. If you’ve got family that want to walk, do it because walking is good for your heart.”

For more information about the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk fundraiser you can read more here. Also for other stories with the American Heart Association you can read more here.