American Heart Association’s ‘Heart Walk’ is Saturday

JACKSON, Tenn. — Hundreds will gather Saturday morning on the campus of Union University for the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk.

The 2016 Heart Walk will kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday in front of Union’s new Logos library. It’s a new location for the annual fundraiser that WBBJ is proud to sponsor.

See a map of the Heart Walk route in the Seen on 7 section of our website.

WBBJ anchor Keli McAlister is an emcee of the event and got a sneak peak of what participants can expect.

The 5K route will head west along the walkway then hang a right onto Dement Drive.

“This is a day to celebrate,” said Christy Futrell, regional director for the American Heart Association. “Our theme this year is celebrate life. And why? Because if you survive heart disease or stroke, that’s a big deal.”

Participants will pass in front of the dorms then take a right on Walker Road, heading back toward the library and the Carl Grant Events Center.

“This is a day you can come together, fight back with the American Heart Association against cardiovascular disease and stroke,” Futrell said.

Walkers will pass by the indoor swimming pool, then hang a left in the parking lot and a right before you reach Fred Delay Gymnasium, then another right onto Joyce Barefoot Drive, which will take you between the baseball and soccer fields and in front of Fesmire Field House.

The route takes another right back onto Dement Drive and back to the bell tower. Two loops make up the 5K route. Participants have the option of completing the 5K, making one loop or just hanging out. Your presence alone will make a different in the fight against heart disease.

“When you’re talking about the No. 1 killer of men and women — and for women more than all forms of cancer combined — you can’t just ignore it,” Futrell said.

The Heart Walk is free to the public and open to everyone, not just teams and sponsors.