Lauren Jaffe
In Motion Staff Writer
Hundreds of people gathered together to support the American Heart Association at the Daytona International Speedway during the Heart Walk to promote heart disease and stroke prevention.
Collecting $150,000 in donations, walkers and the American Heart Association will use the money to continue working towards “building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke,” as noted on the website www.heart.org. Those efforts help prevent and the one in three deaths in the United States caused by these diseases.
The walk began at dusk on Oct. 13 with an opening ceremony. Although participants were lucky in obtaining contributions, their luck ran out five minutes into the walk when the skies opened and drenched the crowd.
WKRO 93.1-FM, Coast Country’s Brenda and Dallas, opened the event by greeting the crowd and cheering them on. They were followed by Ken Mattison, CEO of Florida Hospital New Smyrna, who spoke about how attendees were there with the intent of “improving the health of the community.” He also informed the audience about how difficult heart disease and strokes are for victims and their families and can be done about it. Speaking for the Florida Hospital, which raised over $30,000 of the donations, Mattison said, “We believe in what the American Heart Association can do.”
The second largest group represented was Publix, with many walkers and the goal of raising $1,000 per store. Along with the American Heart Association, who set up a booth of T-shirts for the walk, Publix had booths handing out healthy foods, like apples and granola bars, and water bottles for the participants.
The ceremony ended after young Rehea Banks led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance, and a group warm up was headed by Ladies Only Gym’s Kelley Griffin, Katie Wise and Estefania Wallis. Once brought through the gate; families, friends and co-workers started their two-and-a half-mile walk around the track, while survivors, armed in red capes, started the one-mile walk.
As part of the one million Americans, at one of the 305 events held by the American Heart Association, The Volusia/Flagler Heart Walkers gathered to help raise awareness and money to make a positive difference in the lives of everyone in the community.