Courtesy photos.
CENTRAL COAST — Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. – killing about 2,200 Americans each day – one every 40 seconds. To combat these statistics, the American Heart Association (AHA) hosted the Ventura County Heart & Stroke Walk/Run, held on Saturday, October 1, 2016 to raise nearly $150,000 with the help of local community members and businesses. The crucial funds generated at the Ventura County Heart & Stroke Walk/Run will be used to support research and initiatives that promote prevention, treatment, community outreach, and improved patient care in areas related to heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. In addition, during this year’s walk, the AHA and St. John’s Regional Medical Center announced a new three year partnership and campaign called the ‘Life is Why’ Initiative in Ventura County.
“As a leading provider of award-winning cardiac services in Ventura County, St. John’s Regional Medical Center is proud to sponsor the ‘Life is Why’ initiative that encourages our local community to consider, ‘what is their why to improve their heart health,” says Darren Lee President and CEO of St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital. “The why can be a loved one, a pet, a friend, family member or themselves. Then we encourage our community members to take the steps to improving heart health by offering education, support resources, and events both inside our hospital walls and outside in our community.”
Walkers started the picturesque 5k route at the Ventura Harbor and looped around the scenic trail. A one-mile option was also available for stroke survivors. Before the walks, participants had the opportunity to explore the Health Expo area which included a Kids Zone, educational booths, and heart-healthy food.
Top fundraisers for the Ventura County Heart Walk include:
- Top Company Fundraiser – City of Ventura raised $6,365.
- Top Individual Fundraiser – Glenn Noyes raised $3,004.
- Top Team Fundraiser Walking With Heart raised $6,849.
The 2016 Ventura County Heart Walk is sponsored nationally by Subway. The local “My Heart. My Life” sponsor for Ventura County is St. John’s Regional Medical Center, a Dignity Health Hospital of the Central Coast. Local sponsors include Union Bank, Amgen, Bank of America, Community Memorial Health System, UCLA Health, Pacific Coast Business Times, The TradeDesk, Citizens Business Bank, Montecito Bank & Trust and Wells Fargo.
For more information regarding the Ventura County Heart Walk, please visit www.venturaheartwalk.org