Heart Walk to be digital experience this year

The annual Lake & Geauga Heart Walk will return as a digital experience on June 5. People looking to register, donate or learn more may visit heart.org/LakeGeaugaWalk for complete details, according to a news release. In addition, a CommunityWide Rally Day in support of the Heart Walk will be held on National Walking Day, April 7, which encourages community members to register or form company or friends and family teams by registering on the Heart Walk website. For that date, the American Heart Association has set a goal of recruiting 200 walkers and raising $5,000. Ongoing support from individuals helps further the American Heart Association’s mission, including the recent investment in scientific research to look at the impact COVID-19 is having on heart and brain health, the release stated. Walkers are also encouraged to join the Facebook event at bit. ly/3lvARgd. “Heart walk has always been about coming together, getting hearts pumping, honoring survivors, raising lifesaving funds – and having fun along the way,” said Executive Director Valerie Hillow Gates in the release. Lake Geauga Heart Walk Chair Morris Beverage Jr., also stated in the release that “The safety of our survivors, guests and staff remains our top priority, so we feel that hosting the Heart Walk on Saturday, June 5, 2021 as a digital experience is the best way to include everyone safely. “We’ve learned a lot in the past year and are excited to share our new tools and resources to make this the best year ever. Get ready to ‘lace up’ with us and walk wherever you are on June 5.” New this year is a monthlong Move More Activity Tracker launching on May 7. Also, there will be a Week of Wellness, where walkers are encouraged to exercise their mind, body and spirit during the week leading up the Lake & Geauga Counties Heart Walk with a dose of inspiration through a daily theme that includes ways to pump up the team through fun and healthy activities.