Build a Healthy Heart with the Start! Walking Program
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 6, 2010) — Building a healthy heart is a walk in the park – that’s the message UK HealthCare hopes to spread with an event to mark National Start! Walking Day.
UK HealthCare and the UK Gill Heart Institute will partner with the American Heart Association and Urban Active Fitness to encourage all Central Kentucky residents to get active during their day. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7, prominent members of the community will take turns walking on treadmills stationed outdoors in Triangle Park, at the corner of Main St. and Broadway in downtown Lexington. Walkers will each spend 30 minutes exercising in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of walking to build heart health.
"Walking for as few as 30 minutes a day can significantly reduce your risk for heart disease," said Dr. Richard Lofgren of UK HealthCare. "As a Commonwealth we have a lot to be proud of – but we also have the fifth highest rate of heart disease in the country. Much of this suffering is unnecessary."
Scheduled visitors for the day include UK men’s basketball coach John Calipari (expected to be there between 11 and 11:30 a.m.) and other members of the UK athletics coaching team, as well as CEOs and local business leaders. The list of celebrity walkers is still being finalized, but rest assured that some familiar faces will be there, including: Luther Deaton, President and CEO of Central Bank and Trust; Bill Alverson, CEO of Traditional Bank; Urban Active CEO Royce Pulliam; Greg Milward of Powell-Walton-Milward; Brett Setzer of BCC Construction; Darby Turner of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC; and representatives from Schneider Electric and Trane.
UK HealthCare and the AHA will provide information on heart health and exercise. Representatives from Urban Active Fitness will also be on hand to give pointers to those inspired to start a new exercise routine.
The Start! campaign is sponsored by the American Heart Association, and designed to encourage people to improve their heart health via exercise.
The April 7 event is also a lead-up to the Central Kentucky Heart Walk, to be held Saturday, April 24 at Commonwealth Stadium on the UK campus. Proceeds from the Heart Walk will benefit the AHA in Kentucky.