The 2005 Omaha-Metro American Heart Walk is set for Saturday, May 7 at Chalco Hills Recreation area around Wehrspann Lake. Approximately 2,000 people are expected to participate in the 10th annual event.
The Omaha-Metro American Heart Walk is the largest Nebraska fund-raising event for the American Heart Association. The walk’s net goal is $375,000.
UNMC and University Medical Associates are Red Cap sponsors and will host a pre-walk breakfast at the park.
Employees also are joining the effort. So far, Team UNMC/NMC/UMA has registered 176 walkers and raised about $16,000, reported Cynthia Sutton, administrator, cardiology. Anyone interested in joining the walk, should call Sutton at 559-8077, or Becky Paar at 552-2413.
Heart disease and stroke are the number one and number three killers of Nebraskans.
The American Heart Walk educates the Omaha-Metro area of the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, and what can be done to prevent it. Funds raised support local medical research and educational programs of the American Heart Association.
Participants raise flat donations from friends and co-workers for walking the route.
Walkers will have a choice of lengths to walk (four or six miles), and tailor the walk to their own fitness levels. Participants earn prizes based on the amount of donations raised and company teams may qualify for special awards.
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UNMC’s Thomas Porter, M.D., cardiology, will serve as emcee at the opening ceremonies of the American Heart Walk again this year. Survivors donning red caps are asked to gather in front of the stage before the walk. |
Over the past three years, the American Heart Association has provided about $2.3 million to help fund medical research projects involving cardiovascular disease and stroke at UNMC; Creighton University Medical Center; the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m. the Mayors Mile Children’s Walk, sponsored by Childrens Hospital, will begin.
Opening ceremonies for the walk begin at 9:30 a.m. Thomas Porter, M.D., professor of cardiology, will represent UNMC and UMA. Survivors of heart disease, stroke and related surgeries are honored at this time. Tom Baker of The Harry A. Koch Co., will serve as chairman for the walk, presented by CBSHome and Northern Natural Gas.
The walk begins at 10 a.m. and walkers return to a Heart Festival with food, refreshments, music, sponsor booths, awards and prize drawings until 1 p.m.
It’s not too late to sign up for the walk. Contact the American Heart Association’s office at 346-0771 or visit online at www.heartwalk.kintera.org/Omaha.