Heart disease and stroke impact so many families across the United States, including our own families here at USF Health.

The American Heart Association is holding its annual Heart Walk to raise funds and awareness for heart disease and stroke, and USF Health faculty, staff and students are gearing up to participate.

The annual event draws thousands from across the Tampa Bay area and is one of nearly 340 events held across the country each year. In total, the national AHA Heart Walk events include more than 1 million walkers.

USF Health faculty, staff and students participate in the local event – details below – by forming teams, making direct donations, sponsoring teams and walking themselves as ways to help raise funds for the American Heart Association and awareness for heart disease and stroke.

While many walk for the cause in general, a large number walk for someone they know battling heart disease or living with stroke. Many are walking in memory of loved ones who have been lost to these diseases. Heart disease and stroke continue to top the list at #1 and #5 for killer diseases in the United States.

USF Health takes active roles in helping AHA’s search for cures, said Phillip J. Marty, PhD, vice president for USF Health Research.

“A foundation of science is what will help find new therapies, treatments and procedures for ending heart disease and stroke,” he said. “We have many promising scientists doing promising research that is laying the groundwork for advances.”

USF Health faculty currently have 11 AHA-funded research awards totaling nearly a million dollars aiming toward the solid science that could lead to cures.

“Much of the work we do at USF falls into the category of translational research, in which basic science researchers work with our clinical researchers to test and translate their work into treatments, cures and preventive measures,” Dr. Marty said. “These collaborative research approaches will ultimately help reduce, and even eradicate, forms of cardiovascular disease and stroke in future generations.”

Click here to register or contribute today!  Participation is not limited to employees and students, so please encourage your family and friends to join a USF team.

And check out a great video for this year’s Heart Walk!

Details:

AHA Heart Walk – Tampa

Saturday, Nov. 7

Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, FL 33607

Festivities Begin at 8:00 a.m. and the walk kicks off at 9:00 a.m.  Plan to arrive early for parking, which is free in the general parking lot south of Raymond James Stadium between Dale Mabry and Himes. The walk route will be 3.2 miles with a one-mile route option.