Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of all Americans? In fact, someone dies from CVD every 39 seconds! Heart disease also kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. And congenital cardiovascular defects are the most common cause of infant death from birth defects.
The American Heart Association is the largest voluntary health organization working to prevent, treat, and defeat heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. These diseases, the Nation’s No.1 and No.4 killers, claim more than 813,804 American lives a year.
This year I am privileged to serve as Chair of the 2013 Madison Heart Walk, coming up on Saturday, October 5 at Warner Park in Madison, Wisconsin. When you join a Heart Walk, you join more than a million people in 300+ cities across America in taking a stand against heart disease and helping save lives! Each walker is asked to raise money from friends and family, coworkers, business acquaintances, association members, etc.
The funds raised each year support the valuable research, education, and advocacy efforts of the American Heart Association. Continuing projects include the following:
- Putting up-to-the-minute research into doctors’ hands so they can better prevent and treat heart disease among patients.
- Groundbreaking pediatric heart and stroke research. About 36,000 babies are born with heart defects each year —research is the key to saving babies’ lives.
- Getting life-saving information to those who need it most – information that can save lives, like how to eat better, how to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack, and how to talk to a doctor about critical health choices.
I encourage everyone reading this message to participate in a Heart Walk, whether you’ll be walking alone, with a team, or with your company. To sign up just go to Heart Walk’s National Site (www.heartwalk.org) and search for an event near you. If no listings appear, it means that there are no Heart Walks currently scheduled near you (or that the Heart Walk has already taken place).
Form a Heart Walk team where there is none…or sign up now! Together we can make a difference! Thanks to all our walkers, donors, and volunteers who have already accepted the challenge to help fight heart disease and stroke. I look forward to meeting you who will be walking in Madison on October 5, 2013!
TASC CEO Blog 