Montgomery County Heart Walk overcomes Harvey, raises $300K
Before Hurricane Harvey hit, the American Heart Association Heart Walk aimed to raise $500,000 in Montgomery County for education and research. While event coordinators anticipated a lower amount would be raised at the annual event following the devastating storm, they didn’t expect the record-breaking turnout Saturday morning in The Woodlands.
An estimated 5,200 people weathered the cold temperatures at 9500 Lakeside Blvd. to help raise more than $300,000. The event nomally averages around 3,500 participants.
Coordinators had shifted their focus from fundraising to hosting a great community event and had planned for 4,000 participants, according to American Heart Association Gulf Coast Regional Vice President Kayleen Middleton.
“It was an opportunity for the community to come together and show their support,” Middleton said. “Statistics show cardiovascular events and stroke increase by 22 percent during natural disasters. So the education of heart health is critical at this point and time That’s what we wanted to share with the community today.”
The 5K Heart Walk event featured survivor Steve Furber, who urged attendees not to ignore the warning signs, like minor chest pains, which he at first dismissed almost costing him his life if it had not
been for the quick action of doctors who listened to his symptoms during his annual checkup his wife set. Furber expressed his gratitude for being able to watch his grandchildren grow up, thanks to the surgery and treatment he received at CHI St. Luke’s, where his daughter also works.
Among those who came out to support the walk included Atascocita resident Bailey Brooks, 19, who remembers a bag of stuff bearing the name AHA and a fluffy teddy bear that helped keep her occupied in the hospital as a 12-yearold child recovering from treatment on the hole in her heart that she was born with.
“Because I do deal with heart issues it is kind of inspiring to see so many people come together,” Brooks said.
One reason she came out to the Montgomery County Heart Walk is because her aunt works at Conroe Regional Medical Center, which raised over $20,000 for the event. Spring resident Jessica Ragsdale joined the team with her two small dogs wearing matching team T-shirts before switching into warmer red doggy coats. This year, a punk rock pup named Harry and a dog named Daisy in a T-Rex dinosaur outfit won the pet Halloween costume contest.
“It’s a fun setup for a good cause,” said Ragsdale, standing at the finish line.
Behind her participants and attendees in the Alight Solutions parking lot danced to music and browsed booths from more than 26 vendors, eight new sponsors and 10 additional corporate walk teams.
“We had fun, it was great,” said Houston resident Rennie Hampton, who works at Alight Solutions, which raised at least $11,200. “There were a lot of vendors here representing their companies and supporting the event. I was tired and cold, but now I’m hot. Everyone was smiling and happy to be out here.”
The Heart Walk is one of three major AHA events held each year to support the cause. The Montgomery County Heart Ball will be Feb. 24 and the Montgomery County Go Red Luncheon is scheduled for May 11.
“The community really rallied together today to support the community and cause,” Event Director Samantha Hodges said.
For more information, email Cassie Castaneda at Cassie.Castaneda@heart. org or visit heart.org and search Montgomery County.