Inland Empire Heart & Stroke Walk Raises More Than $430,000

More than 6,000 people turned out for the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Inland Empire Heart and Stroke Walk aimed at raising awareness and funds to fight the nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers – heart disease and stroke. The event held at Rancho Jurupa Park on Sept. 19 raised more than $430,000, a record sum in the last five years of the event’s history. “The success of this event would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our Executive Leadership Team, AHA staff, and the generosity of the residents in the Inland Empire,” said Matthew Webb, chairman of the Inland Empire Heart & Stroke Walk and President of Albert A. Webb Associates. “On top of our fundraising success we were able to get the American Heart Association's message of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, to more people than ever.” “This has been a landmark year for the Inland Empire Heart & Stroke Walk and with these funds will enhance cardiovascular research and education programs in our community,” added Ted Stream, Chairman of the Inland Empire AHA’s Board of Directors. “It has been inspiring to see the Chair, Matthew Webb, and the Executive Leadership Team, as well as community leaders and residents fully embrace the lifesaving mission of the AHA.” Many of the walkers represented families, individuals and teams formed by more than 50 Inland Empire companies who have spent the last few months raising money to support the AHA’s mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The County of Riverside was the top fundraising team, followed by Albert A. Webb Associates. “Riverside County and its employees were proud to support this year’s walk,” said Jay Orr, CEO of the County of Riverside. “Thousands of employees participated by walking and raising over $68,000. This is a loud statement that we are committed to becoming a healthy community. I am very proud of our employees.” The Inland Empire Heart & Stroke Walk is an annual event that brings the community together to help achieve the AHA’s 2020 impact goal of improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent. Participants included many heart disease and stroke survivors as well as families who lost loved ones to the nation’s leading causes of death. Among them was Elise Rodriguez is a healthy 25-year-old Riverside resident that suffered a heart attack last April while at work. Elise, who will be getting a pacemaker a few weeks after the walk, wants to finish the 5K to inspire others to educate themselves about how to prevent a heart attack, even if you think you are too young. The Heart & Stroke Walk provides an opportunity for the community to help build awareness of heart disease and stroke and raise funds to support cardiovascular research. Every dollar raised at the Heart & Stroke Walk means another dollar toward research, another discovery down the line, another life saved. AHA-funded research has contributed to many important discoveries, including CPR, life-extending drugs, pacemakers, bypass surgery, the heart-lung machine and surgical techniques to repair heart defects. The Inland Empire Heart & Stroke Walk was sponsored nationally by Subway, and locally by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Riverside University Health System, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Robertson’s Ready Mix, Morongo Band of Indians, Gresham, Savage, Nolan & Tilden, Albert A. Webb Associates, Kelly Allen &Associates, Riverside Community Hospital, Riverside Medical Clinic, Mathis Brothers Furniture, Dignity Health, and Stronghold Engineering. To donate or for information the Heart & Stroke Walk, visit www.IEHeartWalk.org.