HAMPTON, Va. — Scores of people came together in Hampton Saturday morning to raise awareness about an issue that’s close to the heart.
At Fort Monroe, people from all walks of life, young and old, showed up for the annual Hampton Roads Peninsula Heart Walk.
“I had a heart attack in ‘85,” Gwendolyn Burnett said. “My mom had two heart attacks before she passed.“
Another participant Krystal Parker took part along her young daughter.
“[I’m here] To support Addison. She had open heart surgery at CHKD when she was five weeks old,” Parker said. “So she’s a heart survivor.”
The walk is the American Heart Association’s signature event. This year's theme is “I Walk to Save Lives”.
The goal is to raise money and awareness about an issue that can be life-changing for patients and their families.
Pat Davis-Hagens of Bon Secours more than three thousand people registered for the walk across Hampton Roads. The goal is to raise $400,000 to combat heart disease.
“So that we can invest in technology, we can invest in education,” Davis-Hagens said. “Heart disease and stroke are the number one and number five killers in our country.”
She explained, the money goes towards breakthrough medical research and initiatives like CPR training.
She said the more money they raise, the more lives they can save.
Another participant Frances Burnett said it’s a cause she’ll continue to support.
“It’s very awesome,” Burnett said. “I didn’t know about it so now I’m ready to support every year and I can’t wait for the next one. It’s amazing to see how many people are out here.”