North Shore heart walk raises cash, and awareness

Staff Writer

They’re young, old and in between but they’ll all be putting their walking shoes on and heading for the beach May 1 for a worthy cause.

About 1,000 people from the North Shore are slated to walk up to three miles for the American Heart Walk, the American Heart Association’s premier fund raiser to fight heart disease and stroke.

“Each year it grows,” said Vanessa Gormley, corporate events director.

She said participants will converge at Lynch Park in Beverly at about 9 a.m. for a short ceremony and a jumping-jack warm-up before they set out for Dane Street Beach.

Participants can choose either the shorter one-mile route to the beach, or the three-mile hike that snakes through downtown Beverly then stretches along Lathrop Street before reaching the beach where they will take a water break before returning to the park.

The corporate-driven fund raiser sponsored nationally by Nutrisoy, Subway and Reebok encourages workers, their families and friends to take part in the walk to raise money for research and to help educate communities about the number one killer (disease) in the country.

Last year 350 North Shore participants raised $75,000 for the cause. This year’s goal is $90,000 Gormley said.

Walkers, including about 30 survivors of heart disorders, range in age from 7 to 80.

A 13-year old boy who received a heart transplant several years ago walked in the event but will not be able to participate this year because he is being treated for complications at Children’s Hospital in Boston, said Gormley.

Gormley said she is seeing younger participants each year.

“Everyone has some relation to the disease. They either have a family member or friend that has had some tie-in to heart disease or stroke,” she said.

Gormley said with the Essex County Newspapers as the print media sponsor and Radio Station WXRV of Haverhill promoting the event, she expects a great turnout.

Gift certificates and prizes are planned for participants who bring in the most pledges for this year’s goal, said Gormley.

People interested in joining the walk can either call Gormley at 508-935-3929, 800-662-1701, Ext. 3929, or can register on-line at www.heartwalk.kintera.org/northshorema.