More than 5,000 people are expected to gather at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 22, to be part of the annual Greater Los Angeles Heart and Stroke Walk.
Organized by the American Heart Association (AHA) Southern California, the event will serve as a platform to raise both funds and awareness in the ongoing battle against heart disease and stroke, which remain the nation’s leading killers.
A statement by AHA Southern California said participants expected at the Rose Bowl include a young woman who survived cardiac arrest at her grandfather’s funeral, a church pastor who unknowingly endured a stroke for three days, a young mom who faced a heart attack during her daily household chores, a Grammy Award-winning Mariachi band leader who suffered a stroke after a performance, and a resilient 5-year-old girl who has undergone three open-heart surgeries to mend her heart defects.
“These are among the many faces of heart disease and stroke who are participating in the walk to save lives at the American Heart Association’s Greater Los Angeles Heart and Stroke Walk,” the statement said.
This year’s Heart and Stroke Walk will offer a three-mile walk route, a kids zone with giveaways, the lively sounds of mariachi music, and a survivor lounge where survivors receive a complimentary special baseball cap.
Participants and their families can also engage in bracelet-making activities, connecting with fellow survivors. Leashed dogs are welcome at the event, with a “Pup-arazzi” pet photo area set up for capturing memories with your pets.
To sign up as a participant, you can choose to start a team, join a team, or join as an individual. You can also opt to donate to the AHA instead of participating in the Walk.
The Greater LA Heart and Stroke Walk aims to gather support for the AHA’s mission to save lives by combating cardiovascular diseases, which claim more than 870,000 lives each year. Funds generated will provide essential support to improve care and outcomes for heart disease and stroke patients, advocate for stronger public health policies, and fund groundbreaking scientific research to enhance survival rates and discover cures.
The AHA, founded in 1924 by six cardiologists, has a longstanding history of fighting heart disease and stroke. It has grown into the largest and oldest voluntary organization dedicated to combating heart disease and stroke. The organization now has more than 35 million volunteers and supporters and about 2,900 employees, united in championing cardiovascular health.
To sign up for the event or donate to the AHA, visit www.HeartWalkLA.org.
