More than 10,000 attend San Diego Heart & Stroke Walk

More than 10,000 people turned out Saturday for the 28th Annual American Heart Association San Diego Heart & Stroke Walk, raising over $1 million. These funds will be invested in innovative, lifesaving research and community programs.

The American Heart Association is working to create a San Diego where heart disease and stroke are things of the past, where healthy choices are equitable and accessible, and where your zip code does not determine your health.

Special thank you to Heart & Stroke Walk Chair Michael Cunningham, Chancellor, National University. Dr. Cunningham’s leadership helped bring almost 400 teams to the event. Dr. Cunningham also led by example, finishing as the top fundraiser for this year’s Heart & Stroke Walk.

Sponsors and volunteers were a major part of the Heart & Stroke Walk’s success. Top sponsors included National University, Swinerton, Quidel, CIGNA, Scripps Health, A-I-G, Cubic, Union Bank, Qualcomm, and GEICO. Heart & Stroke Walk media sponsors included 97.3 The Fan, 96.5 KYXY FM, KSON 103.7 FM, KUSI-TV, and Univision San Diego. More than 200 volunteers helped bring the event to life.

Money raised at the San Diego Heart and Stroke Walk supports the association’s lifesaving work, including funding innovative scientific research, bringing health education programs to children and adults in the community, setting science-based best practices for treating heart disease and stroke and advocating for policies that positively impact cardiovascular health

Research facilities and organizations across San Diego received $30 million in American Heart Association funding last year.

The American Heart Association also recognized Sharp Healthcare’s Dan Gross for his extensive, and long-tenured Heart Walk leadership. He has been actively involved in the Heart Walk since its inception – 28 years ago. During that span, Gross and his Sharp Heart Walk teams have raised more than $3 million.

Mark Payne, Swinerton Vice President and Division Manager, will continue to build on this year’s success as the 2020 San Diego Heart & Stroke Walk chair.

Walking is the simplest positive change individuals can make to improve their heart health because it’s free, easy and has the lowest dropout rate of any exercise. The benefits of walking and moderate physical activity for as little as 30 minutes each day can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke - the number one and number five killers of Americans, respectively.

Visit SDHeartWalk.org to learn more.