The American Heart Association has been working over 90 years to help improve America’s health through scientific research with the goal to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure heart disease.
The results are in the numbers: The heart disease death rate has dropped about 50 percent over the last 50 years for which official statistics are available. In 1950, heart disease killed 356 out of 100,000 Americans. By 2010 the number shrunk to 179 per 100,000. – AHA
Even with this great progress, heart disease still remains the number one cause of death and stroke is the fifth leading cause. It is this reason that the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are still working tirelessly to help Americans lead healthier lives.
One of the AHA’s largest fundraisers is the Heart Walk, an event created to promote physical activity and heart-healthy living with a fun environment. The Heart Walk takes place all over the country throughout the year, to find a Heart Walk near you click here:
Alford Media Services has been involved with the Dallas Heart Walk since 2007, both participating and working at the event. We walk to support the cause of promoting physical activity and building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Our Logistics Coordinator and Heart Walk Team Captain, Shawn Logan, has walked in the Heart Walk every year since 2005. His story is one that shows the importance of heart health awareness and the work of organizations like the AHA.
In 2005 his journey with this disease began, he had a heart attack at the age of 32. Five years after that he had a triple bypass and one year later a heart ablation. After his heart attack in 2005, he decided it was time to make a change and it was the first year that he participated in the Heart Walk. He started on his path to a lifestyle of healthy living with the support of his wife, Kasey.
It was in 2010, not long after Shawn’s triple bypass, that his son, Kage, was born. He says his wife and son are the biggest reasons why he strives to be healthy and stay in front of this disease. It’s been four years since Shawn’s last surgery, and he’s healthy, happy, and doing great.
Shawn and Kasey have walked in every Heart Walk since 2005; their son, Kage, has been at every one since 2010, including one in utero. It is Shawn’s hope that he instills in his son the importance of being active and healthy and, “a ritual to participate in the Walk every year for the rest of his life”.
The American Heart Association’s newest national goal is to improve the heart health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent by the year 2020. Let’s help them achieve this goal!
The Alford Media Team will participate in the 2015 Dallas Heart Walk on September 12 with our Team Captain, Shawn Logan, and we would love for you to join us!
Click the link below to donate and sign up for the 2015 Heart Walk:
