Join the Walk of Life in support of Cardiac Rehab

Published: on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 12:02 am and is filed under 2010-02-25. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

By Niagara Health System

Did you know that heart disease accounts for the death of more Niagara residents than any other disease?

This spring, NHS staff, patients and their friends and families are invited to participate in the Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada Walk of Life to raise money to support our cardiac rehabilitation program.

Registration is $10 per person and walkers are encouraged to collect pledges from friends, family and co-workers.To obtain a pledge form, or volunteer, contact Steven Walker at 905-378-4647 ext. 63320.

Covering a five-kilometre route, the event will take place in Welland in May — date to be announced. Registration for the Walk of Life is only $10 per person (includes an eco-friendly bag/back pack), and walkers are encouraged to collect pledges from friends, family and co-workers. To obtain a pledge form, or volunteer, contact Steven Walker at 905-378-4647 ext. 63320.

The Niagara Walk of Life is part of a national fundraising initiative through the Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada, hosted by local cardiac rehabilitation programs in cities and towns throughout the country to promote heart health awareness. While this is the first time the NHS cardiac rehab program has participated in the Walk, this year marks the 25th anniversary of this national event that aims to encourage participants of all ages to get active and to educate people about heart disease prevention.

The funds raised locally will support the NHS Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Program. The money will be used to purchase equipment such as blood pressure cuffs, heart rate monitors, lap tops, projectors, and other patient education materials for the program.

Last year, the NHS cardiac program saw over 700 people from Niagara, and numbers are expected to grow in 2010. The program offers services in Welland, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines and sees patients who have experienced heart issues such as bypass surgery, angioplasty, heart attack, heart failure, valve replacement or heart transplant. Rehabilitation strategies include supervised exercise programs, nutrition counselling and help with stress management and smoking cessation–the end goal being to increase fitness level and decrease risk factors.

Do your heart good and join us for the Walk of Life! «