Sign up today to participate in the 2008 Start! Richmond Heart Walk on Oct. 25.
Virginia Commonwealth University employees often give back to the Richmond community — without expecting anything in return.
But through their participation in the 2008 Start! Richmond Heart Walk, VCU employees not only gain the health benefits of a three-mile walk, but they also contribute to research dollars at the university where they work.
The American Heart Association’s awards to VCU researchers total $1.36 million and make VCU the second highest recipient of the AHA’s dollars in the state.
The value of contributing to a large cause motivates employees such as Ike Tucker, assistant director for the VCU Foundation, whose younger sister unexpectedly received a pacemaker during emergency surgery in September 2005.
“If not for organizations like the heart association that are advocating this cause, we wouldn’t have technology such as pacemakers or other advances in heart medicine,” he said.
Tucker and his wife Jessica plan to run the three miles at the Snagajob.com Pavilion in Innsbrook. They will raise funds in honor of his sister, who today enjoys a healthy life.
“It really hits home,” he said. “This has become our family cause and, eventually, when our kids get older, it will serve as a lesson in philanthropy for them as well.”
According to the AHA, heart disease and stroke are the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers — claiming more than 910,000 American lives a year. In 2007, VCU raised $44,000 through the Start! Richmond Heart Walk.
This year’s goal is to have at least 600 walkers and raise $65,000.
“We want our employees to get involved in the community and participate in events like the heart walk, where they also receive the byproduct of exercise that makes them heart healthy,” said Debbie Fitzgerald, co-chair of the walk for the university and work/life resource and recognition coordinator for VCU Human Resources.
The 2008 Start! Richmond Heart Walk takes place Saturday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. at the Snagajob.com Pavilion in Innsbrook. Participants will receive VCU team T-shirts. For more information about leading or joining a team, please contact Fitzgerald at dmfitzge@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521.
After the walk, participants will have time to return to campus for VCU’s 40th anniversary celebration in Monroe Park.
