Family- and Pet-Friendly Walk to Raise Funds to Fight Heart Disease and Stroke

Over two hundred people from State College and Centre County will meet at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center of Sunday to help fight two of America’s biggest killers: heart disease and stroke.

Brooke Welsh of the American Heart Association says that walks like the Centre County Heart and Stroke Walk on September 28 happen all over the county, and with good reason. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, while stroke is number four.

“It should be a really fun, community-driven event,” Welsh says.

Registration for the all-ages walk begins at noon, and participants will set off on the “beautiful and scenic” two-mile course through the nature center at one p.m.

During registration, there will be music and fun actives set up at a “kid’s zone,” which will feature face painting and an exhibit from the Discovery Space children’s museum in downtown State College.

Welsh says that the walk is also pet-friendly and they’ll have treats at the ready, so be sure to bring your furry friends with you.

“This is also a great opportunity for anyone who wants to honor or remember a loved one affected by heart disease or stroke,” Welsh says, adding that many teams of walkers participate in memory of family members.

The walk aims to raise $70,000, which the Heart Association uses for a number of purposes. Welsh says that participants at Sunday’s event can take heart knowing their dollars are funding advocacy, prevention education and research.

Educational materials will also be available at the walk to encourage healthier lifestyles and reduce rates of these diseases. Welsh says this part of the Heart Association’s larger goal to reduce rates of heart disease and stroke by 20% across the country by 2020.

“I think this will be a success knowing that we helped people learn about prevention,” Welsh says. “And if we can get close to our fiscal goal, it’ll be encouraging to know we can give back to research and advocacy.”

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