Heart Walk Raises Over $300,000 for Cardiovascular Health
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
1 Love IE is a local lifestyle brand birthed here in the Inland Empire, explained Justin Hudson, who was selling shirts and other 1 Love IE gear on Saturday. “We want to promote peace, love and unity from the Inland Empire to the rest of the world,” Hudson said. Pictured from left: Laron Cooksey, Danielle McQueen with Foundation for Kids, Justin Hudson, Tony Osunsanmi, Trevor Foster and Mohammad Zahour. Visit http://1loveie.com/.
Photo Courtesy of: Breeanna Jent
From left: Riverside Medical Clinic employees Vickie Haner and Muriel Elder passed out heart-shaped coolers at their booth on the lawn before and during the Inland Empire Heart & Stroke Walk. The Riverside Medical Clinic has five Inland Empire locations, in Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Jurupa Valley and Eastvale. Affiliated with Riverside Community Hospital, Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center and Corona Regional Medical Center, the Riverside Medical Clinic offers health education classes, flue clinics, a medical library and over 130 board certified physicians and providers. Visit http://www.riversidemedicalclinic.com/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Riverside County Animal Services employee Stefanie Rubio and her daughter Olivia Sanchez were participants at Saturday’s Heart & Stroke Walk event. Rubio commented it was nice that crowd-friendly leashed dogs were welcomed to the event. Riverside County Animal Services envisions a county where the need for euthanasia is erased, and the county is educated and prepared to assure a safe and caring environment for animals, seeking lifetime homes for pets. Visit http://www.rcdas.org/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
From left: New York Life’s Nicolas Perez, a Financial Services Professional and Licensed Agent and also an American Heart Association board member, and Natalie Abrego, agent, manned Booth No. 1 at the AHA Heart & Stroke Walk on Saturday. New York Life provides life insurance, long-term care insurance, and investment and retirement services to its members throughout the country. Visit http://www.newyorklife.com/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Explorers Post 880 were on site during the AHA Heart & Stroke Walk on Saturday, giving out pamphlets of information about the Department and the Explorer program. Pictured from left: Explorer Post Advisor Dept. Jeff Cryder and Explorers Michael Ramirez and Jonathan Hageman. The post membership is currently at 20 and ranges in age from 14-21 years old, with Jurupa Valley Station Explorers participaint in events like career fairs, health fairs, parking and traffic control, and other special events. Explorer competitions also happen once or twice a year, and Explorers also visit the Explorer Academy each July. Visit http://www.riversidesheriff.org/volunteer/explorer.asp.
Photo Courtesy of: Lynn Heatley
Health advocate and Covered California Educator Lynn Heatley, a consultant through CityNet, poses with the American Heart Association’s heart mascot, Ticker at Saturday’s event. Heatley leads her own organization, Healthy Leaders Thriving Cities, www.thrivingcities.org. Through CityNet, a sub-grantee under TELACU (The East Los Angeles Community Union), Heatley helps provide information on Covered California and help local residents obtain health insurance. Visit www.telacu.com.
Photo Courtesy of: Breeanna Jent
The sleek Bat Mobile was a large attraction before the Heart & Stroke Walk event commenced at 8:30 a.m. Many took the opportunity to get their pictures taken with the Bat Mobile, protected by velvet blue ropes.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
North West College’s health team members (from left) Melissa Santiago, Kathleen Parra and Trudie Hughes give big, bright smiles at their booth on Saturday morning. Founded in 1966 by Marsha Fuerst, North West College has seven campuses throughout California, including in Riverside, Pomona Valley, West Covina, Pasadena, Glendale, Santa Ana and Long Beach, in the mission to prepare students in short-term programs for employment in various medical fields. Visit http://nw.edu/home.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
The “Little Marine” Brock Stetka-Albers climbed around and had fun during the 2014 event.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
KFROG’s Dustin Shappell and Karlie Reeves were out showing their support last Saturday at Booth No. 5. KFROG serves the Inland Empire with two stations for new country music, on 95.1 FM and 92.9 FM. The station brings listeners music, on-air talk shows, contests and more. Visit http://kfrog.cbslocal.com/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
North West College’s Anais Brito manned booth No. 7, where she invited visitors to spin the American Heart Association Health Wheel. Those who performed the actions at the booth, such as 10 push ups or 10 sit ups, for example, were awarded a prize.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
The family of Jocelyn Carina Martinez walked in memory of her on Saturday. Jocelyn was just 10 months old when she passed away in March 2001, from complications arising from a congenital heart defect. “I love telling her story,” Jocelyn’s mother, Griselda Quinones who works at the Riverside Medical Clinic, told the City News Group. Pictured from left: Elias Martinez, Matthew Ruiz, Elsa Ruiz, Jennifer Ruiz, Fatima Quinones-Martinez, Griselda Quinones and Rosa Quinones.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Arrowhead bottled water representatives (from left) Mary Hartle, Anabel Yoshida and Brad Lukes smile for the camera between passing out cold bottled Arrowhead water to participants during Saturday’s walk event. Arrowhead Brand 100% Mountain Spring Water is now part of Nestlé Waters North America, which began in 1976 as a company that imported the famous French sparkling water, Perrier® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water. Today, Nestlé Waters North America Inc. is the largest bottled water company in the country. Visit https://www.arrowheadwater.com/# and http://www.nestle-watersna.com/en.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
The Jacob family walked this year in honor of Tony Ratliff, a family member who passed away of cardiac arrest at just 39 years old in 2011. “My brother and I were very close,” said Cherie Jacob, a Moreno Valley resident. “It’s a shock to the family still.” From left: Jelaiya Jacob, Jaden Jacob, Cherie Jacob, Valentin Jacob and Jayla Jacob.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Nature’s Bakery representatives (from left) Jody Stoops and Paula Neiman show off some of the fig bars they were giving out on Saturday during the Heart & Stroke Walk for those who were hungry. Based out of Carson City, Nevada, Nature’s Bakery creates and sells all natural fig bars free of cholesterol for people of all ages and fitness levels. The company’s mission is to bring balance to life through “wholesome, tasty snacks.” Visit http://naturesbakery.com/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
The American Heart Association’s Cultural Health Initiatives representatives (from left) Francis Beltran and Erika Beltran gave out samples of tasty and healthy corn salad. The American Heart Association hosts several health-conscious events like Saturday’s Heart & Stroke Walk in its mission to to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent by 2020. Visit http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Smile Generation members show off their pearly whites with walk participants at booth No. 12 on Saturday. Promoting their $59 cleaning, exam and digital X-ray promotion, Smile Generation members gave out informational pamphlets and other goodies at their booth. From left: Smile Generation’s Nancy Hernandez, Evelyn Lindley, walk participant Sam Khemalaap, walk participant Amanda Buchanan and Smile Generation’s Carissa Hurley smile for the camera. Smile Generation works with individuals to connect them to qualified dentists in their area, working around hectic schedules and within budget. Visit http://www.smilegeneration.com/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Angela Hernandez and her 3-year-old daughter, Kailyn Ortega, had fun spinning the wheel at the Smile Generation booth on Saturday. Kailyn holds in her hand a Smile balloon.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
The County of Riverside Department of Public Health also had representatives on site Saturday during the walk. Pictured from left are: Andrea Alpine, Abby Ezkroth, holding Joshua Lopez in her arms, Joseph Lopez and Julisa Silva. The Riverside County Department of Public Health promotes and protects the health of Riverside County residents through various programs and services, including immunization programs, emergency medical services, family health care centers and more. Visit http://www.rivcoph.org/Home.aspx.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Kennedy Walter manned the Necessary Nutrition booth, where she handed out informational pamphlets on the organization. Through nutrition classes and counseling, resources, healthy food tasting parties and the Necessary Nutrition Academy, collaborating with health, wellness and personal development professionals to bring this information to the public. Visit http://www.necessary-nutrition.com/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Personal trainer Devin Stensrud helped participants take their body fat calculations at his booth on Saturday. Stensrud entered the individual’s height and weight statistics before handing them the body fat calculator. Healthy body weight percentages lie between 18 and 24 percent, Stensrud said, offering participants some health tips to either get into or stay within this healthy body fat range.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Petals the Clown was out and about taking photos with children and signing autographs.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
American Medical Response Riverside County paramedic Louis Peterson demonstrates CPR with (front to back) Alyssa, Victoria and Mia at the AMR booth on Saturday.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
The Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District, or the Riverside County Parks, for short, was another one of the sponsors of the event. Representatives (from left) Vanessa Arriaga, Ebony Bates and Dayna Whitaker gave out information on the department, letting residents know its mission to acquire, protect, develop and manage park areas of scenic, recreational and historic importance, including aquatics areas, regional parks, sports parks, reservations and special events areas. Visit http://www.rivcoparks.org/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Media Specialist Justine Rodriguez shows off the promotional T-shirt the ARMC team was selling for $10 each, giving the proceeds back to the American Heart Association. “It’s great when different parts of the community get together and do this,” Rodriguez said of the walk event. ARMC is a state-of-the-art 456-bed facility featuring the newest technology in the field of patient care, host to a 24-hour Emergency Department, Level II Trauma Center, three Family Health Centers and the only Burn Center serving San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo and Mono counties. Visit https://www.arrowheadmedcenter.org/default.aspx.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
FitOne Foundation members (from left) Shannon Paulo, Arelis Harvey, Mandy Bingaman, Amanda Moreland and Tracy Chelette take a moment from handing out information to booth visitors to pose for the camera. A nonprofit organization located out of Riverside is Southern California’s only entirely donation-based and community supported fitness and training facility. Offering fitness classes, seminars and outreach events, the FitOne Foundation offers health and fitness education and opportunities to Inland Empire residents. Visit http://www.fitonefoundation.com/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
St. Bernardine Medical Center representatives pose in front of their brightly colored poster with their furry friends, taking a break from selling dog-friendly scarves during the Heart & Stroke Walk on Saturday. Pictured from left: Michelle Melancon, Kathy Crumpacker, Nicki Purdy, Vieanna McNeely, Teri Purdy, Pamela Blevins and Anita Arnold. St. Bernardine Medical Center’s vision is to provide a national health care system known for service, chosen for clinical excellence, standing in partnership with patients, employees and physicians to improve the health of all the communities served. St. Bernardine Medical Center is one of seven Southern California medical center foundations and one of 14 Southern California care centers in the Dignity Health family. Visit http://www.dignityhealth.org/index.htm.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Early morning before the Heart & Stroke Walk commenced, Jasmine Chinchilla cozies up to McGruff the Crime Dog, who “takes a bite out of crime” and helps kids learn how to be and stay safe.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
American Medical Response Riverside County paramedics pose with a CPR dummy at their booth. The paramedics gave CPR demonstrations and awarded stickers to those who successfully demonstrated their CPR-giving abilities. From left: Paramedic Sean Jackson, Paramedic Louis Peterson, Health Care Administrator with Riverside County Ambulatory Services Judith Sheinin, and Paramedic David McGuire. AMR serves 2,1000 communities in 40 states and the District of Columbia, with more than 3 million patient transports in 2012, providing emergency and non-emergency transportation to and from medical centers throughout the country. Visit http://www.amr.net/Index.aspx.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Riverside Community Hospital representatives (from left) Cherie Russell, marketing director; Katie Baca, chest pain coordinator; Jana Miller, pediatric manager; Melissa Rico, performance improvement, Registered Nurse; and Paula Fenton, education, Registered Nurse; passed out information fliers and pamphlets regarding a wide variety of health issues, like breast cancer. The group also gave away free pedometers to visitors. Riverside Communtiy Hospital is a 373-bed hospital with a staff of 1,830 and over 500 physicians, providing emergency, cardiology, neurology and neurosurgery services including stroke treatment out of 50 treatment areas and a Level II Trauma Center. Visit http://riversidecommunityhospital.com/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
West Coast University nursing student Joanne Orquia takes Richard Strickland’s blood pressure at the West Coast University booth on the lawn.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
West Coast University’s nursing students offered blood pressure readings to participants throughout the day. They stand here with three instructors. West Coast University offers undergraduate degrees in nursing and graduate degrees in nursing, health administration and occupational therapy across its three Southern California campuses. Visit https://westcoastuniversity.edu/.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
More participants on Saturday give a smile to the camera. From left: HDR Engineering’s Paul Paramo and Ryan Cheung, Pacific Advisors Financial Representative James Persinger, and HDR Engineering’s Bob Ryan.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
Kye Miller hugs the American Heart Association Heart mascot while his sister Kaile looks on, enjoying all the AHA Heart & Stroke Walk had to offer.
Photo Courtesy of: Breeanna Jent
At the starting line before the event kicked off on Saturday were (from left) City News Group Publisher Margie Miller, Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce CEO Phil Carlisle, Miller’s husband Jim Miller, and Master of Ceremonies for the AHA’s Heart & Stroke Walk Stan Morrison. City News Group has been serving Inland Empire communities for 20 years; purchased by Miller in 2006, the newspaper serves the communities of Colton, Grand Terrace, Loma Linda, Moreno Valley, Redlands and San Bernardino, acting as a “buffet for the eyes that feeds the heart, mind and soul.” With a cutting-edge, interactive website, www.citynewsgroup.com, readers get the latest news and can access photos and stories 24/7.
Photo Courtesy of: Monique Stensrud
The Heart & Stroke Walk Master of Ceremonies Stan Morrison (far left, in red) readies up at the start line with some other excited and young participants, ready to jet off.
Photo Courtesy of: Margie Miller
A walking team from Loma Linda gathered after the walk for a smiley team photo. Pictured: Sam Khemalaap, Penny Amorn, Dennis Kay, Audrey Kay, Tannie Kay, Phil Kay.
By Margie Miller, Publisher/Journalist &, Breeanna Jent, Staff Writer
September 25, 2014 at 01:07pm. Views: 110
September 25, 2014 at 01:07pm. Views: 110
Master of Ceremonies Stan Morrison welcomed 6,253 to the American Heart Association's 2014 Inland Empire Heart and Stroke Walk at Rancho Jurupa Park Saturday, Sept. 20, raising awareness about cardiovascular health, raising funds and honoring survivors and lost loved ones.
Saturday's massive event raised $310,754, which will help fund medical research and local heart healthy initiatives.
A live band provided musical entertainment that added to the crowd’s excitement, while visitors perused 25 booths set up around the park offering health products like pedometers, healthy treats, and other promotional items, alongside informational pamphlets and fliers. Spinning boards at some booths offered the opportunity to win prizes, while those who made sure to get their ‘passports’ signed by each booth were entered into a raffle drawing to win additional prizes. For the kids there was a bounce house and photo opportunities were presented with the American Heart Association’s heart mascot, McGruff the Crime Dog, and Saturday’s super-heroic centerpiece: the sleek and majestic Bat Mobile.
The crowds were also joined by friendly and leashed dogs in the non-competitive 5K walk, totaling 3.1 miles with a shorter 1 mile route for survivors, which began at 8:30 a.m.
The American Heart Association’s annual Inland Empire Heart & Stroke Walk is one of their largest events, and is just one way the organization works to build “healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.”
The organization’s goal by 2020 is “to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent.”
The American Heart Association also suggests these lifestyle practices for a healthier and longer life:
• Weight management through healthy eating choices, daily physical activity and workplace wellness programs;
• Quitting smoking; and
• Stress management through practicing daily relaxation techniques, positive self-talk and deep breathing exercises, to name a few.
Host Stan Morrison, a retired collegiate basketball coach, athletic director and currently the Senior Vice President at Security Bank of California, would like to thank the 6,000 plus participants and the following sponsors for their support of this great cause:
• American Heart Association
• 1 Love IE
• Arrowhead bottled water
• Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
• American Medical Response, Riverside County
• Cardinal Health
• City Net
• City News Group
• Devin Stensrud, personal trainer, sports and fitness training
• FitOne Foundation
• KFROG
• Nature’s Bakery
• Necessary Nutrition
• New York Life Insurance Company
• Northwest College
• Riverside Community Health Foundation
• Riverside Community Hospital
• Riverside County Department of Public Health
• Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District
• Riverside County Sheriff's Department Explorers Post 880
• Riverside Medical Clinic
• Smile Generation
• St. Bernardine Medical Center
• West Coast University
Many families walking Saturday were personally touched by cardiovascular disease, some battling the issue themselves and still others participating to honor the memory of their loved ones.
Griselda Quinones of Riverside was joined by members of her family walking to honor her daughter, Jocelyn Carina Martinez, who passed away in March 2001 as a result of tetralogy of fallot, a congenital heart defect that prevented Jocelyn's blood from circulating properly. Jocelyn was just 10 months old.
"I'd heard about the walk about three years ago through a friend and I wanted to do it," Quinones, who works with the Riverside Medical Clinic, said. "This year I heard about it again through work and I wanted to register by myself, so I told my family and friends."
Quninones noticed a few weeks after her daughter's birth that Jocelyn would turn purple around the mouth when she cried. After taking her to Pomona Valley Hospital, where Jocelyn was born, doctors performed the first open heart surgery on Jocelyn when she was just two weeks old. The family waited about a month after the surgery to get the results, and unfortunately, Quinones explained, Jocelyn's blood was still not circulating properly. The family was eventually transferred to a medical center in Los Angeles and stayed at the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House during Jocelyn's treatment before they came to Loma Linda Children's Hospital, where she began to do better.
"She was doing very well. She was eating and gaining weight," Quniones said.
Around seven months old and at 18 pounds, Jocelyn developed an infection. She passed away on March 11, 2001, exactly two months before her first birthday.
Quinones and her family wore shirts with Jocelyn's photo on them at the walk, with the words "In Loving Memory" placed above her picture.
Quinones and her family raised $190, while the Riverside Medical Clinic where she works raised $2,600.
"I love to tell her story," Quninones said of Jocelyn. "We can help in some way. Whatever we donate, it can go to research or help families who were like us. If you're not at the hospital, you don't know what families are going through. It's tough."
Quniones said she wants to participate in the walk again next year, and spend her time preparing and fundraising.
Moreno Valley resident Cherie Jacob and her family were also at the walk honoring the memory of Jacob's brother, Tony Ratliff. Ratliff passed away in June 2011 at 39 years old of a heart attack, Jacob explained.
A commercial truck driver, Ratliff was injured on the job in 2009 and lost his job as a result. With the economy crash, he was also facing the loss of his house, causing him to develop high blood pressure from stress.
"In June 2011 he went to the hospital with a bad cough and trouble breathing," Jacob explained. "They diagnosed him with pneumonia, but two weeks later he was in the hospital again with the same symptoms. Because he didn't have health insurance, he couldn't get an appointment for another month. He was dealing with congestive heart failure, and went into cardiac arrest on June 7, 2011, and passed away of a heart attack."
Jacob said she was very close with her brother, who was just a year and a half older than her.
"Before he died he warned me to take care of my heart," said Jacob, who said she dealt with hypertension. "It's a shock to the family still. He was a family guy and we always did everything together. He is missed very much at family functions."
Jacob said last year was the first year the family had participated in the heart walk, and wanted to continue to walk in Tony's memory. She said she has also been proactive herself, making sure to get the treatment she needs and work with a "progressive health care system."
For more information on Saturday's walk, and other health tips, visit http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG.
Related Articles
By Ruby Stephenson, Contributing Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:17pm. Views: 224
Moreno Valley residents are being invited to take an active role in shaping the city’s future, by serving on one of its Boards or Commissions, Mayor Ulises announced.
By Stella Pierce, Community Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:17pm. Views: 235
The student ensemble, directed by Michael Pichette, will be presenting a vespers program featuring reflective wind and percussion music that brings together students, families, and the local community.
By Charmaine Mislang, Community Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:17pm. Views: 212
Young athletes with the Grand Terrace Titans Jr. All American Football & Cheer sit together and smile for a group photo during practice, wearing team uniforms and bows, representing teamwork, confidence, and community spirit.
Cheerleading events feature cheer competition performances, where our athletes showcased their routines, teamwork, and dedication.
The football events focus on time spent together both on and off the field, competing, training, building brotherhood, and strengthening team bonds through shared experiences.
By Stella Pierce, Community Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:17pm. Views: 227
Members of the Grand Terrace Woman’s Club welcome community members during one of their Bingo Game Nights, which raise funds to support local outreach efforts while bringing residents together for an evening of fun and fellowship.
By Charmaine Mislang, Community Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:17pm. Views: 329
Colton firefighters respond to a hazardous hydrogen‑fuel tank explosion, quickly securing the scene and preventing further danger to the surrounding neighborhood.
By Cynthia Baker, Contributing Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:18pm. Views: 260
Taken on July 22, 2025: The MD class of 2029 MD took the Hippocratic Oath and received their white coats, symbolizing entrance into the medical profession.
"This class brings the largest number of Inland Empire-based students to a CUSM MD class," said Paul Lyons, MD, President and Dean of California University of Science and Medicine. "It is core to our mission to support the communities of the Inland Empire in terms of education and health accessibility. Admitting qualified IE-based students is a major part of bringing our mission to life."
By Stella Pierce, Contributing Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:18pm. Views: 260
Airbud, a tan Shepherd-mix dog, happily jumps up to play with a handler during outdoor enrichment time at the shelter, showing his energetic and playful personality.
By Stella Price, Contributing Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:18pm. Views: 308
Illustrative image of a happy family outdoors with one dog and one cat, both shown wearing pet insurance tags. Moreno Valley Animal Services and MetLife Pet Insurance form a unique partnership in an effort to remove adoption barriers.
By William Cortez, Contributing Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:18pm. Views: 185
City of Riverside Fire Department officials and city leaders stand in front of a fire engine, cutting a red ribbon to unveil new PumpPod equipment, during an outdoor ceremony on a sunny day.
By William Cortez, Contributing Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:18pm. Views: 147
An AI-rendered image showing a person wearing a hood and gloves removing a property tax payment envelope from a blue mail drop box during low light conditions.
By Charmaine Mislang, Community Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:18pm. Views: 277
AI-generated image of a family of four sitting at a kitchen table, looking together at a laptop while holding CalFresh informational materials and an application form. The adults and children appear engaged and focused, suggesting they are reviewing or applying for food assistance benefits.
By Angela Giacobbe, Community Writer
March 3, 2026 at 12:18pm. Views: 163
An energetic group of friends stand outdoors, smiling and embracing in a moment of connection and support. Staying proactive about health—including routine colon cancer screening—helps ensure more moments like these for years to come.