On Saturday, October 23, members of the community gathered to celebrate the annual American Heart Association Richmond Heart Walk. Taking place at Libbie Mill, survivors, supporters, caregivers and friends joined together safely to honor those who they have lost to heart disease or stroke and to celebrate those who survived. To keep the event safe, the AHA provided rolling start times at the event and provided a virtual component via their Heart Walk app. Participants could enter their steps manually or sync with their phone. They could also download a curated Heart Walk playlist!

VCU Health has been a proud supporter of the Heart Walk for 28 years! Team members from not only the heart center and stroke center took part but also those in clinical research, dentistry, pharmacy, sleep center, administration and more. With close to 300 team members participating, we were able to help raise more than $28,000 for the AHA!

All throughout the year, VCU Health team members showed their support of why they walk by hosting fundraisers, team competitions or by purchasing the annual VCU Health Heart Walk shirt to show their spirit! Our team members also show great pride in naming their team, such as “Murmur She Wrote,” “Red Hot Chili Steppers” and “OMG- Don’t Be So Tachy.”

As the event brings support groups together, sharing stories of loss or how heart disease or stroke has changed their lives we remember it is the journey, not the destination. We know we have to do more to help fight these silent killers but for just this moment, we are able to celebrate and pause.