HomeStepping out to fight heart disease
ELOISE MARIE VALADEZ - eloise.valadez@nwi.com, (219) 933-3365 | Posted: Sunday, September 20, 2009 12:00 am
Next weekend is not only a good time to start on the path to fitness but it's also the perfect opportunity to give to a worthy cause.
More than 1,000 area residents will share a common charitable goal as they gather for Porter County's "Start! Heart Walk" on Sept. 26 at Coffee Creek in Chesterton.
Registration begins at 9 a.m, and participants may choose from a 1-, 2- or 3-mile walk.
The walk, presented by The American Heart Association, will benefit heart and stroke research and the group's community programs.
"From a fundraising standpoint, this is a cause that people are very much aware of. Most people think positively of what the association does," said Dale E. Heinz, walk chairman. Heinz, who's been involved with the Heart Walk since 2003, is also ArcelorMittal's senior division manager of primary operations at Burns Harbor.
Cristina Darr, of Valparaiso, is one of the people who also believes in the association and has witnessed the good it's done. And for the third year in a row, she and her family will participate in the Porter County walk.
Darr's son Colton, 3, was born with a heart defect and because of medical research and new technology, he's been able to live a somewhat normal life.
Colton, who had heart surgery when he was five days old, had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICG) inserted to help restore his heart's rhythm.
"Colt is a great example of why the association and its research is so important," said Darr. "He' s not cured but he's basically been fine because of the device he has."
Darr said money donated to the Heart Association greatly helps in funding research for lifesaving devices, new medicines and procedures. She said in the last two decades great strides have been made in the treatment of and surgeries involving heart disease.
The Darr family, including Cristina, her husband, Mark, little Colt and his siblings, Zane, 7 and Keegan, 5, will participate in the upcoming walk. Cristina and Colt also took part in the Lake County Heart Walk on Sept. 19.
For the Porter County event, the family is planning to walk the 1-mile route.
Darr said Colt was taken on his first Heart Walk in a carrier when he was only four months old.
According to Dale Heinz, it was important for him to be involved with the association and its fundraising walks because of a "personal" experience with the disease.
"My father died from complications from a stroke and my grandfather died of heart disease," Heinz said.
"And on a professional level, I've seen family and friends who have been touched by heart disease," he said.
Heinz said Northwest Indiana residents have been dedicated supporters of the walk for the past 15 years.
In conjunction with the event, a health festival, featuring screenings, giveaways and nutrition information will take place.
Porter County's Start! Heart Walk, 9 a.m. Sept. 26
WHERE: Coffee Creek Center, 850 Sidewalk Road, Chesterton
FYI: (219) 996-4958 or heartwalk.kintera.org/northwestin. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and walk starts at 9:45 a.m.
POSTED - 10/01/2009 09:22
ELOISE MARIE VALADEZ - eloise.valadez@nwi.com, (219) 933-3365 | Posted: Sunday, September 20, 2009 12:00 am
Next weekend is not only a good time to start on the path to fitness but it's also the perfect opportunity to give to a worthy cause.
More than 1,000 area residents will share a common charitable goal as they gather for Porter County's "Start! Heart Walk" on Sept. 26 at Coffee Creek in Chesterton.
Registration begins at 9 a.m, and participants may choose from a 1-, 2- or 3-mile walk.
The walk, presented by The American Heart Association, will benefit heart and stroke research and the group's community programs.
"From a fundraising standpoint, this is a cause that people are very much aware of. Most people think positively of what the association does," said Dale E. Heinz, walk chairman. Heinz, who's been involved with the Heart Walk since 2003, is also ArcelorMittal's senior division manager of primary operations at Burns Harbor.
Cristina Darr, of Valparaiso, is one of the people who also believes in the association and has witnessed the good it's done. And for the third year in a row, she and her family will participate in the Porter County walk.
Darr's son Colton, 3, was born with a heart defect and because of medical research and new technology, he's been able to live a somewhat normal life.
Colton, who had heart surgery when he was five days old, had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICG) inserted to help restore his heart's rhythm.
"Colt is a great example of why the association and its research is so important," said Darr. "He' s not cured but he's basically been fine because of the device he has."
Darr said money donated to the Heart Association greatly helps in funding research for lifesaving devices, new medicines and procedures. She said in the last two decades great strides have been made in the treatment of and surgeries involving heart disease.
The Darr family, including Cristina, her husband, Mark, little Colt and his siblings, Zane, 7 and Keegan, 5, will participate in the upcoming walk. Cristina and Colt also took part in the Lake County Heart Walk on Sept. 19.
For the Porter County event, the family is planning to walk the 1-mile route.
Darr said Colt was taken on his first Heart Walk in a carrier when he was only four months old.
According to Dale Heinz, it was important for him to be involved with the association and its fundraising walks because of a "personal" experience with the disease.
"My father died from complications from a stroke and my grandfather died of heart disease," Heinz said.
"And on a professional level, I've seen family and friends who have been touched by heart disease," he said.
Heinz said Northwest Indiana residents have been dedicated supporters of the walk for the past 15 years.
In conjunction with the event, a health festival, featuring screenings, giveaways and nutrition information will take place.
Porter County's Start! Heart Walk, 9 a.m. Sept. 26
WHERE: Coffee Creek Center, 850 Sidewalk Road, Chesterton
FYI: (219) 996-4958 or heartwalk.kintera.org/northwestin. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and walk starts at 9:45 a.m.
POSTED - 10/01/2009 09:22
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