Published: September 25, 2009 08:18 pm      

Holstein to serve as chair for Start! Heart Walk

By Nathan Wheeler

Rend Lake College

MT. VERNON — The American Heart Association is pleased to announce that Charley D. Holstein, President of Rend Lake College will serve as the chairperson for the 2010 South Central Illinois Start! Heart Walk, sponsored locally by St. Mary's Good Samaritan, Inc. The walk will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at Veterans Park in Mt. Vernon.

"I'm looking forward to chairing the walk this year," said Holstein. "The American Heart Association is a wonderful organization that impacts our area residents and the world over. I'm excited to do what I can to continue the success and important research funding this event has brought year after year."

The Start! Heart Walk is the American Heart Association's signature fund-raising event for the region and a part of the American Heart Association's new Start! movement. The Start! program is a movement for the American Heart Association in which tools are provided to area businesses and individuals to get America walking for health. The focus of Start! is simple — Walk more. Eat well. Live Longer. Studies have shown that walking is good medicine for the heart. In fact it's great medicine. For every hour of regular, vigorous exercise, like brisk walking, one can expect two hours will be added to their life expectancy.

"We all know someone who has experienced heart disease or stroke," said Holstein. "This event reminds us that heart disease and stroke can happen to any one of us. It emphasizes the importance of our efforts in helping to save the lives of our co-workers, family and friends."

Last year the South Central Illinois Start! Heart Walk raised over $107,000 for the American Heart Association. This year the goal is to raise $130,000. In the spring of 2009, over 21 companies participated in the effort as well as many friends and family teams. Topping the awards list last year were: Top Fundraising Company: St. Mary's Good Samaritan, Inc., raising $24,242; Top Fundraising Team: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Team, raising $12,634; Rookie Company of the Year: Peoples National Bank, raising $2,284; and Top Fundraising Walker: Jenna Kidd, raising $4,243.

"We had a great year, thanks to the efforts of many from our region," shared Gary Duncan, the 2009 Start! Heart Walk Chair. "I'm excited to have President Holstein taking over as chair this year and look forward to helping him continue the success of the American Heart Association locally."

American Heart Association-funded research has yielded or contributed to such important discoveries as CPR, life-extending drugs (including clot-busters), pacemakers, bypass surgery, the heart-lung machine and surgical techniques to repair heart defects. Despite progress, heart disease and stroke continue to be major health threats. Heart disease and stroke continue to also be the No. 1 health threat in Illinois and accounts for approximately 37 percent of all deaths in the South Central Illinois region.

For information on the Start! Heart Walk, or to register, call the American Heart Association at 983-3234 or visit www.southcentralilheartwalk.org. For more information on the American Heart Association’s Start! program visit www.startwalkingnow.org.