Wildcats participate in Abilene Heart Walk to raise money and awareness of the risks and dangers that heart disease brings for all people.

The Wildcats put together a team of participants for the event. Emerald Cassidy, the director of public relations and media relations at ACU, organized the Wildcats team for the event. The Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s premiere event for raising funds.

“The Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s premiere event for raising funds,” Cassidy said. “These funds help to decrease the country’s number one and number five killers – heart disease and stroke.”

ACU was a sponsor for the event and walkers who participated helped to bring awareness to the risks of heart disease. Funds raised from this event and others led by the American Heart Association help with innovative research for new treatments for the people that need them.

The event had a goal of raising $45,000. It has currently raised $39,938. Even though the event is over, the organization is still taking donations for the cause.

The annual Abilene Heart Walk, as a part of the American Heart Association, took place on Saturday at Grover Nelson Park. The walk was put together along with many others across the country on the same day.

The purpose of the walk is to build awareness, and help to raise money for the American Heart Association. The Abilene branch helps the local community, and allows local companies and schools to put together teams to raise money for the event.

The American Heart Association looks to reduce the amount of heart disease in Americans by promoting a healthy diet and lifestyle. They currently have a new national goal, and that is to produce a 20 percent improvement of cardiovascular health in Americans by the year 2020.

Events such as the one that is hosted in Abilene helps to provide the funding for these major undertakings that have been set. It would be impossible to achieve the goals that have been set without fundraising events such as heart walks.

The American Heart Association has many other programs other than heart walks. These events include such things as Jump Rope For Heart, and Hoops for Heart, along with many others.