(Feb. 3, 2013 – Rome, NY) Hundreds of people joined the American Heart Association to fight against America’s No. 1 killer at the Rome Indoor Walk/Run and Pre-Registration for America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk. A total of 219 people took part in the event, raising $20,641 to fight heart disease and stroke. The event was held at Rome Free Academy and sponsored by Rome Memorial Hospital.
Highlights of this year’s event were:
- The family of Red Cap survivor ambassador Nathan Hurlbut shared his story during the Opening Ceremony. Nathan is two years old. After having open heart surgery at just 6 months old to fix a hole in his heart, Nathan has recovered and is now an active toddler.
- The event offered different walk courses to attract different types of walkers; for the person that would like a leisurely walk, there was an indoor oval track and for the more avid walker/runner there were challenging courses. Everything was held indoors and out of the cold.
- There were family-friendly activities for the children to enjoy, along with entertainment, at Sydney’s Circle. Sydney was a Rome resident who passed away from heart disease and Sydney’s Circle is a way to honor her memory with a fun-filled morning of activities.
- There were many vendors at the Expo for the community to visit. Blood pressure screenings were provided by the Red Cross. Rome Memorial Hospital offered heart-healthy living education.
America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk Weekend’s fundraising goal is $1,143,000. A minimum amount of $25 in pledges for participants 18 years and older is required at registration to participate in the Heart Run & Walk. For more information on America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk 2013, please contact the American Heart Association at 315.266.5403 or visit www.uticaheartrunwalk.org.