WVU Medicine CCMC is delighted to continue their partnership with the American Heart Association for the 2018 Mid-Ohio Valley Heart & Stroke Walk, which will take place Thursday, October 4 at the Parkersburg City Park. This year’s Walk Chair is Steve Altmiller, President and CEO of WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center. Tom Yencha, a lifelong Parkersburg resident and heart attack survivor, is this year’s Honorary Chair.
“We can’t say thanks enough to our sponsors and community partners and to Steve Altmiller, whose leadership has helped bring so many together for this event,” said Michelle Loehr, Development Director for the American Heart Association. “Without them, our mission to save lives in this region couldn’t happen.”
Registration will begin at 5 p.m. with the walk starting at 6 p.m. Hundreds are expected to lace up their sneakers and walk in the fight against heart disease and stroke, our #1 and #5 killers.
“We are so excited to see the Mid-Ohio Valley community once again come together in this fight,” said Loehr. “So many of these community teams and businesses are walking because of the way that heart disease and stroke have personally impacted them – be it that they form together to honor those lost to the diseases or to celebrate survivors of them.”
“The support we continue to see from the community truly makes this event such a success,” said Loehr. “When you’re fighting the #1 and #5 killers of Americans, you find that practically everyone has been impacted and that gives them plenty of reason to join the walk and make a difference.”
Area sponsors include: WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, Parkersburg Cardiology Associates, WesBanco, Highmark West Virginia, Solvay, UniCare, Grae-Con and Bowles Rice. Z106 FM/Results Radio, WTAP TV and the Parkersburg News & Sentinel are the media supporters for the event.
Loehr reminds attendees to look for survivors wearing their special Red Caps (heart survivor) and White Caps (stroke survivor). “If you want to know why you help, just look at our Red Cap and White Cap survivors,” Loehr said. “They are all the motivation you need.”
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer, and stroke ranks fifth nationally. Locally in WV, these diseases combined claim the lives of almost 9,000 each year. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life.
WVU Medicine CCMC's Janine Hiles, Stroke/Chest Pain Program Coordinator, said Camden Clark’s Heart and Stroke Team works hard all year to raise funds. "This money will go to innovative research for new treatments, provide programs and services for survivors and their families, and help more of our loved ones to lower their risk," she said. "We want to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke."
The funds raised through the American Heart and Stroke Association have had an impact in the state of WV.
(AHA, 2017)
While this is all positive change, there is more to do.
The 2018 Mid-Ohio Valley Heart & Stroke Walk
Parkersburg City Park
October 4, 2018
Registration 5pm / Event Rally 6pm
Register online at www.heart.org/midohiovalleywalk
T-Shirts available at the walk while supplies last.