2019 Western Kentucky Heart Walk on WKCTC Campus October 19

Community invited to attend and walk to fight heart disease and stroke

Paducah, KY (10/09/2019) — According to the American Heart Association about 2,150 Americans die from heart disease - the number one killer in the United States each day. Stroke, which is the number five killer and a leading cause of severe disability, claims the lives of nearly 219,000 each year. On October 19, the American Heart Association (AHA) is hosting the 2019 Western Kentucky Heart Walk, one of over 300 walks across the nation annually, on the campus of West Kentucky Community and Technical College. The community is invited to join the Heart Walk's singluar mission to fight against heart disease and stroke.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m. Walkers can also visit various information tables, including tasty samples of food from WKCTC's culinary department, health screenings, balloon animals creations, a meet and greet with Life Flight helicopter pilots, and much more. The event is free and open for all ages.

The AHA, the world's leading voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, has been instrumental 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 have helped to transform health statistics into lives saved, but there is more work to be done.

"The Heart Walk is still focused on its initial assignment, funding groundbreaking research through the passion of walking together to change lives," said Anton Reece, West Kentucky Community and Technical College president and 2019 Heart Walk executive chair. "I am honored to serve and play a role in the promise of a better future for younger generations to live healthier, better lives."

Each time someone laces up their shoes or forms a team to participate in the Heart Walk, they continue to build the pioneering breakthroughs that are making a difference in the lives of Americans every day. 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.

"Mercy Health is happy to be a presenting sponsor of the Heart Walk and to help bring this great event to our community," said Mercy Health - Lourdes Hospital CEO Michael Yungmann. "The Heart Walk is an excellent opportunity to exercise your own heart while changing the lives of others. As an organization committed to improving the health of our community, Mercy Health - Lourdes Hospital proudly supports the American Heart Association's mission to reduce death and disability from heart disease and stroke. "

Craig Beavers, PharmD, Director of Cardiovascular Services at Baptist Health Paducah, said "The science of how we respond to heart disease and stroke has progressed tremendously. With a new generation lacing up their shoes to participate in the Heart Walk, I am excited to see the big solutions to come."

Those who participate in the Heart Walk at WKCTC October 19 can help change the story of heart disease and stroke in western Kentucky. Their commitment helps continue funding research that keeps hearts beating.

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.

Individuals and teams can still register online at heart.org/westernkywalk. For more information contact Susanne Riley at suzanne.riley@heart.org, or 270-519-9234.

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