Thursday, October 22, 2009
American Heart AssociationHealthy as a walk in the park
The 18th annual Heart Walk is set for this Saturday at Green Hill Park.
The Lewis-Gale Medical Center team poses during last year's American Heart Association Heart Walk. The 18th annual event takes place Saturday at Green Hill Park in Roanoke County.
Photo courtesy of the American Heart Association.
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This weekend, Danny Bowen plans to take a walk with his family at Green Hill Park in Roanoke County.
Bowen has more than just a morning stroll in mind. This family of four is joining more than 1,500 other walkers for the 18th annual Heart Walk.
The American Heart Association hosts the noncompetitive 5K walk every year in an effort to raise money and awareness of heart disease.
Elizabeth Vail, director of the Roanoke Valley affiliate, said, "The American Heart Association felt that walking would be a good fundraiser because walking is our mission in motion."
This is Bowen's first year participating in the walk, but he feels like an expert already.
Two years ago, in August 2007, at the age of 41, Bowen had a "spell" while working out. First he felt a tightness in his chest, and then he found it hard to breathe.
Bowen went to the doctor the next day and was admitted to the hospital the day after. Only five days after Bowen's initial symptoms, he underwent bypass surgery.
Bowen is extremely thankful to the doctors who operated on him and is glad to be back in shape again.
He said that he had always had borderline cholesterol readings and never thought much of it. If only he had paid more attention to his family's history of heart disease and those borderline numbers, he added, he might have avoided surgery.
Now he's committed to doing anything he can to help others recognize the signs and symptoms and avoid risking their lives.
"If I can help one person not go through bypass surgery, then my experience was worth it," Bowen said.
Bowen's family has already raised $600 under their Heart Walk team name, the Titans. His daughter, Jessica Bowen, and Erin Dowling held a bake sale at Hidden Valley High School and raised all of the money in just four days.
Every person who raises $100 will receive a free Heart Walk T-shirt. Other prizes are available for anyone who raises more, said Vail, including a cooler, a fitness bag and a juicer.
Vail said 1,500 walkers have registered so far, but that 2,000 walkers are expected. This year's fundraising goal is set for $375,000, she added.
Last year the walk raised $318,000.
Vail said that a portion of the money would fund local research at Virginia Tech and the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg.
When all is said and done, Vail just wants everyone to know more about heart disease.
She added, "For every one hour of vigorous exercise you can gain two hours of life expectancy."
