Dr. Mark Wathen gives daughter Erin a ride on his shoulders at the start of this year’s American Heart Association Heart Walk. Erin was one of this year's Red Cap walkers. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Thousands participate in Vanderbilt Heart Walk
Joanne Raines wears her heart on her head during the Heart Walk. Raines works in the General Surgery Clinic. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Kristan Staley gets her face painted at this year's American Heart Association Heart Walk. (photo by Dana Johnson)
More than 7,000 walkers participated in this year's event. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Joan Binkley, right, has a ball playing with Sierra Loftis at this year's American Heart Association Heart Walk held Oct. 29 at Vanderbilt. (photo by Dana Johnson)
The route may have changed but the goals remained the same – walk to raise funds to support heart disease and stroke research and educational programs in Middle Tennessee and the nation.
More than 7,000 walkers participated in the annual Heart Walk at Vanderbilt on Sunday, Oct. 29.
“Our turn out was great,” said Joey Barnett, Ph.D., assistant professor of Medicine and Pharmacology and president-elect of Nashville Davidson County Heart Association. “For the first time, we ended the walk at the Vanderbilt track. This gave walkers a chance to spread out on the grass and relax.”
Barnett, who served as the Heart Walk coordinator for the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, said Vanderbilt surpassed its goal of raising more than $510,000.
“Last year, Vanderbilt obtained more than $1.7 million in research funds from the American Heart Association. In addition, hundreds of Middle Tennessee schools learn about healthy hearts through our Hoops for Hearts, Jump Rope for Hearts and HeartPower programs.
“This event was a great success,” he said.
Dr. Rose Marie Robertson, professor of Medicine and president of the AHA, said the funds raised from such events are crucial to sustaining the work of the national organization.
“Not only do these funds support critical advances in research related to cardiovascular diseases and stroke, but they help support crucial community programs like Operation Heartbeat and Operation Stroke that will protect thousands of individuals and save lives throughout our city and state.
“This is only one of the many ways in which Vanderbilt supports its community, but I’m particularly proud that our commitment to the AHA’s programs are so prominent and set such high standards for others across the country,” Robertson said.