Hospital invites public to join team for ‘Heart Walk' on May 4

WARWICK - This year’s American Heart Association’s “National Start! Walking Day” was celebrated on Wednesday, April 16. At St. Anthony Community Hospital the event also served as an opportunity for the hospital’s “Start Walk at Work Team” to kick off its preparation for the “Start! Heart Walk,” organized by the Middletown Chapter of the American Heart Association. The annual Heart Walk, scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, May 4, will begin with a rally at Minisink Valley High School in Slate Hill. The cause sponsor of this year’s event is Bon Secours Charity Health System and the 2008 Heart Walk Chairman is Tom Brunelle, executive vice president/administrator of St. Anthony Community Hospital. Start! Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s premiere fund raiser. There are no fees to participate but walkers are encouraged to raise at least $25 through donations or sponsorships. Prizes will be awarded to walkers who raise significant amounts. “The St. Anthony Community Hospital’s walk team is open to anyone in the community,” said Andrea Studnitzer, guest relations manager for St. Anthony Community Hospital. “Whether you work here or live here, we’d love to have you join our team. And if you can’t walk on walk day you can choose any day to walk and still raise money. Or how about donating money to our walk team or getting involved with the heart association’s chapter in Middletown?” The American Heart Association reports that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women in the U.S. Physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease and stroke. According to the Heart Association, walking has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity and is the simplest positive change individuals can make to effectively improve their heart health. For more information about joining the hospital walk team and participating in the upcoming Heart Walk, call Andrea Studnitzer at 987-5050.