Healthy Hearts: LU Health Center To Host Heart Walk

Nearly 700,000 people die of heart  disease  every   year, making it the leading cause of death in
the United States. 

The Liberty University Center for Health and Wellness will partner with the American Heart Association to sponsor a heart walk at the Riverfront Park in Lynchburg at 10 a.m. on April 9.

“Americans consume more fatty foods than the rest of the world yet exercise the least,” Keith Anderson, executive director of the health center at Liberty, said. “We hope this event raises awareness for the importance of heart health.”

The Center for Health and Wellness became a signature partner with the AHA since the first walk took place in Lynchburg. Students have enjoyed participating in the past, and it is expected that it will once again be a success. 

“Participation in the walk is a way of acknowledging the importance of cardiac care,” Anderson said. 

Participants in the walk/run help raise funds before the event to donate to AHA. Walkers who raise over $100 will receive a free T-shirt. Participants can complete either a 1, 2, 3 or 4 mile course. 

Participants must join a team on the heart walk website, or they may register one of their own at www2.heart.org. Registration for the walk opens a variety of benefits, namely access to the app used to track activity during the walk, connections with other walkers on social media and a special playlist created specifically for the event.

DJ MADLAD, who has a small FM radio station in the Lynchburg area, will be working from 9 a.m. to the end of the event. He refers to his music style as “Sunday afternoon oldies.” 

Opening ceremonies for the day begin at 9:30 a.m., starting off with prayer and a short address from Anderson. The walk itself starts at 10 a.m. 

A refreshment stand with plenty of water and snacks will be available for all participants.

A “pooch parade,” where walkers can show off their pets, will commence before the start of the walk.

Don Loos, a sophomore at Liberty, first learned about the walk from an advertisement.

“At first I wasn’t that interested in it, but I saw the advertisement for it and thought it might be fun and interesting,” Loos said. “If the event raises money for a specific cause or project, it is definitely a good thing to do.”

Anderson hopes that this event will encourage students to think more actively about their heart health.

“An event like this can elevate students’ awareness of the threats to living a healthy lifestyle.” Anderson said. “We want it to be a trigger to begin healthier behaviors.”

Anderson encourages students to not only take part in this walk but also get involved in other events held by the Liberty University Center for Health and Wellness, including National Eating Disorder Awareness week. It also hosts many health expos throughout the school year on topics such as diabetes and cancer awareness, women’s health and mental health. Students can find the workshop schedule on the Student Health and Wellness website, liberty.edu/students/health-wellness. 

For more information about this event or to register, students may visit the official site at www2.heart.org.

Kicinski is a news reporter.

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