TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER PRESIDENT TO CO CHAIR EVENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2004
CONTACT: Suzanna Cisneros Martinez, suzanna.martinez@ttuhsc.edu

Walking with a Mission

LUBBOCK – Heart disease is the countrys No. 1 cause of death; stroke is No. 3. Together these cardiovascular diseases kill more than 930,000 Americans each year. More than 1,000 area residents will take steps to change tomorrow when they participate in the American Heart Associations Heart Walk at the Texas Tech University campus at 9 a.m. on Oct. 16.

This years Heart Walk theme is Change Tomorrow. Today. Co-chairs of the event are Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center President M. Roy Wilson, M.D., M.S., Suzanne Arkle Wilson and honorary co-chair, Coach Marsha Sharp.

The non-competitive, one or three-mile walk raises funds to support heart disease and stroke, as well as research and educational programs in the Lubbock community. It also promotes walking as part of a healthy life style, said Suzanne Arkle Wilson.

This years event includes a new attraction with the addition of a 23-mile bicycle ride that travels through Mackenzie and Mae Simmons parks and back to the Texas Tech University campus. Also available is a health fair and screening and family events for children.

Everyone knows someone affected by cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease or stroke. Heart and blood vessel diseases are the leading killer of women and men in the United States and the second leading cause of death for our children, said Dr. Wilson. Thats why its so important for all of us to participate in the Heart Walk and do our part to help save lives.

The fund-raising goal for this years event is $110,000. The Heart Walk, a national American Heart Association event, has raised more than $406 million for research and education in its 12-year history.

American Heart Association-funded research has yielded many important discoveries such as CPR, life-extending drugs, pacemakers, bypass surgery, the heart-lung machine and surgical techniques to repair heart defects.

NutriSoy and Subway sponsor the Heart Walk nationally. Local sponsors include: the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, University Medical Center, United Supermarkets, Southwest Regional Specialty Hospital, Plains Capital Bank, FirstCare, Caprock Home Health Services and American State Bank.

For information on participating in the Heart Walk, Lubbock area residents can call the American Heart Association at (806) 762-6599 or visit walk.americanheart.org.

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