Eastern Michigan University, in conjunction with the American Heart Association, is celebrating National Walking Day on April 1. A walking event will be held that day and every Wednesday for the entire month.
“We’re doing these walks to get people out and be active and promote physical activity within the staff and students,” said Tara Tomcsik, American Heart Association corporate events coordinator.
Walks will be led by a different staff member each week and will leave from the Student Center’s circle drive at noon.
April’s events are part of the American Heart Association Washtenaw campaign to bring advocacy and awareness to heart disease which kills one in three Americans on average.
“It’s still the number one killer,” Tomcsik said. “If you combine all cancers it doesn’t even remotely equate.”
According to the American Heart Association:
Heart disease is 80 percent preventable through proper nutrition and exercise.
Less than 1 percent of Americans have ideal heart health.
African-Americans have nearly twice the risk of stroke.
Hispanic women tend to develop heart disease 10 years earlier.
Children who are overweight from the ages of 7 to 13 may develop heart disease as early as age 25.
All students and staff are welcome and encouraged to participate. More events leading up to the May 9, Annual Heart Walk/5k Run will be updated as they become available.
For more information on how to prevent heart disease visit the American Heart Association website at heart.org
