The Heart and Stroke Walk’s mission is to fund research to cure heart disease and stroke
SANTA BARBARA — The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, is hosting the 2018 Santa Barbara Heart and Stroke Walk, an event that has beeninstrumental in innovative breakthroughs over the last 25 years. Since the inception of the Heart Walk, mortality rates from cardiovascular disease and stroke have plummeted by 45 percent. Each walker and each donation has helped to transform health statistics into lives saved, but there is more work to be done.
The walk is among 300 Heart Walks held in communities across the nation. Nearly 1 million people walk each year for a singular mission, to cure heart disease and stroke. This year the Santa Barbara Heart and Stroke Walk will be held on September 29 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Individuals and teams can register online at SBHeartWalk.com. Festivities, registration and the Health Expo begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by the walk/run at 9:30 a.m. Brae Grensky, a Banking Services Manager with Rabobank, will serve as Chair of this year’s Heart & Stroke Walk/Run and the event will be emceed by KEYT-TV’s Joe Buttitta and Kelsey Gerckens.
“The Heart Walk is still focused on its initial assignment, funding groundbreaking research through the passion of walking together to change lives,” said Grensky. “I am honored to serve and play a role in the promise of a better future for younger generations to live.”
Each time someone laces up their shoes or forms a team to participate in the Heart Walk they are instrumental in innovative breakthroughs. Every donation helps create new technologies such as the artificial heart valve, cholesterol drugs, stents, and the mechanical heart pump which helps extend the life of patients.
Each day, about 2,150 Americans die from heart disease from cardiovascular disease- the No. 1 killer in the United States. Stroke, the No. 5 killer and a leading cause of severe disability, claims the lives of nearly 219,000 each year.
The Heart Walk is open to the community and all are welcome to participate and change the story of heart disease and stroke in Santa Barbara. Those who walk are committed to funding research that keeps hearts beating. The 5K walk/non-competitive run encourages healthy eating habits while raising funds to support the AHA’s research and education efforts. Before the walk, participants are encouraged to explore the expo area including the Family Fun Zone, educational and sponsor booths and heart-healthy food and music. This year’s sponsors include Arthrex, Union Bank, Bank of the Sierra, Cottage Heart & Vascular Center, Karl Storz, MarBorg Industries, Montecito Bank & Trust, Sansum Clinic, Village Properties, CenCal Health, Central Coast Home & Health Hospice and Casa Dorinda, Keller Williams Santa Barbara, Rabobank N.A., LinkedIn, Pacifica Graduate Institute and The Californian of Santa Barbara.
Over the past 25 years the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association have funded $3.4 billion in research. But the work is far from done. The American Heart Association is nearing the $5 billion mark as we work to fund big ideas to pioneer breakthroughs in our understanding and treatment of heart disease and stroke.
For more information or to register for the Santa Barbara Heart Walk, visit SBHeartWalk.com.
The American Heart Association: The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.