Heart Run& Walk marks 45 years

UTICA, N.Y. >> America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk is celebrating 45 years of saving lives.

March 1 and 2 will be the 45th America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk. This year’s event will feature special tributes throughout the weekend to the history of the Heart Run & Walk and what makes it America’s Greatest.

America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk Weekend events include:

• The Healthy for Good Expo will be held on Friday, March 1 at Utica College, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Runners and walkers can register all day long and attend the Expo. Health and wellness assessment screenings will take place throughout the day and are free to participants. Parking for the Expo is available at the former MetLife building at 125 Business Park Drive. Birnie shuttles will take participants to Utica College.

• WIBX Heart Radiothon will be broadcast on WIBX of Townsquare Media on Friday, March 1 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 2 from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and streamed online at www.wibx950.com.

• WKTV Heart Telethon will be broadcast live by WKTV NewsChannel 2 and streamed online at www.wktv.com on Friday, March 1 from 7-8 p.m. on CBS Utica. Volunteers will be taking calls begin- ning at noon. The telethon will air on Saturday, March 2 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WKTV NewsChannel 2.

Six run/walk routes will kickoff on Saturday, March 2. Routes include the traditional 30K, 10 mile, 5mile and 3 mile runs, alongwith the 5 mile and 3 mile walks. The 30K run is the earliest, starting at 7:30 a.m. The 5 and 3 mile walks start at 10:30 a.m. Shuttles will take runners from Utica College to the 30K and 10 mile run start lines.

Shuttle service on Saturday is available starting at 6 a.m. Runners and walkers should park at one of four Park & Ride locations:

• Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, 12 Rhoads Drive (Utica Business Park)

• Utica National Insurance Group, Genesee St., New Hartford

• American Heart Association, 125 Business Park Drive, Utica

• National Grid, 221 Old Campion Road, New Hartford

The fundraising goal for the upcoming event is $1.1 million. Fundraising efforts for the 45th anniversary Heart Run & Walk are led by chairman Jeremy Robinson, senior vice president of customer relations management at NYCM Insurance.

The popular Kids Heart Challenge will be held after Heart Weekend. For its third year, the challenge will be held Friday, April 26 at 7 p.m. at Valley Gymnastics. The event is an obstacle course for kids ages 5-12. Registration will be available online and starting at 6:30 p.m. at Valley Gymnastics.

Participants can find this information at www.UticaHeartRunWalk.org, or by calling the American Heart Association at 315-580-3964.

Follow along on social media on Facebook and Twitter at @ HeartCNY and on Instagram at @AHANewYork and with #HeartRunWalk.