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[ american heart association ]
Indianapolis Heart Walk & 5K Run Come out and support the American Heart Association at this year’s event! Tim Harms, Communications Director, American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate
Becky Halon is thankful to be alive. As a 28-year-old mother of three, the Avon woman suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest in her home in July 2010. Without a pulse for 72 minutes, Halon was miraculously revived. Since that day, Halon has been an ardent supporter of the American Heart Association and an annual participant in the Indianapolis Heart Walk & 5K Run. “I’ll be forever grateful to my husband, first responders and doctors, who performed CPR for more than an hour to bring me back,” Halon said. “Those efforts coupled with some relatively new treatments saved my life. The American Heart Association pioneered CPR and is the leader in training individuals and healthcare professionals in that skill. Combined with all of the research they’ve funded and their other heart-health programs, I’m committed to supporting them.” Halon will join approximately 10,000 others at this year’s Heart Walk, which takes place from 8 a.m. – noon on September 14th at White River State Park. Registration is free for the walk and $25 for 5K runners, but participants are encouraged to raise money to help meet the association’s goal of raising $1 million for its mission of building healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and strokes. The money raised
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stays in Indiana to support the American Heart Association’s local programs. “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Indiana,” said Gary Hentschel, president of KeyBank and chair of the Heart Walk. “Almost all of us know someone who has been affected by heart disease, whether they’ve had a heart attack, bypass surgery or stents. The Heart Walk is a chance to celebrate the survivors of heart disease and the accomplishments of the American Heart Association while also allowing us to remember those who have passed.” Festivities include a Kids Zone, live music and free health screenings. A brief ceremony hosted by WTHR meteorologist Chuck Lofton includes recognition of individuals who have made significant lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of heart disease. More information is available at IndyHeartWalk.org.