U-M health leaders urge faculty, staff and students to walk or run for cardiac health May 15, during the American Heart Association 2010 Start! Heart Walk & NuStep 5k Run. The event begins at 9 a.m. at Washtenaw Community College.

Dr. Robert Winfield, chief health officer and director of University Health Service, says the event is to increase awareness of two of the top three leading causes of death, and to raise funds for research, advocacy and education.

“Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in our nation, and stroke is No. 3. We need to do more research, more patient education and more prevention, and that takes money,” Winfield says.

The Cardiovascular Center is a recipient of proceeds from the event, and leaders say every dollar raised comes back to U-M sixfold. A number of CVC staff members and others from across the university are involved in the planning, including Dr. Kim Eagle, the Albion Walter Hewlett Professor of Internal Medicine and professor of internal medicine, Medical School, who serves as the U-M Heart Walk Champion.

Colleen Greene, MHealthy Wellness coordinator and campus chair of the walk, says the event is for the whole family. In addition to the walk and the 5k run (which is new this year) participants will find a kid zone with games and activities, health screenings, information about recycling and other green practices, and heart-healthy food.

“We want a hundred teams, we’d like a thousand members and we’d like to raise $100,000, but we’re also looking for people to volunteer, too,” Greene says. “It’s just a variety of fun things that happen for hours.”

For students or others who may not be around May 15, Greene says organizers have created a “Walker in Spirit” designation, to encourage them to raise money even though they cannot be involved on the day of the event.

Information on how to register to run or walk or be a walker in spirit can be found by going to www.miheartwalk.org. Questions can be sent to [email protected] or call 734-483-1697.

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