Thousands of participants took steps to boost their physical and mental health through healthy habits and celebrated heart disease and stroke survivors while raising lifesaving funds for the American Heart Association at the Greater Maryland Heart Walk.
The event, held Oct. 21 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, raised more than $1.5 million for the American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization focused on heart and brain health for all.
More than $1.5 million was raised for the American Heart Association through the 2023 Greater Maryland Heart Walk on Saturday, Oct. 21.
“It was a beautiful day for celebrating our survivors and heart health in Maryland,” said Tracy Brazelton, executive director of the American Heart Association, Baltimore & Greater Maryland division.
“Thank you to the amazing walkers, sponsors and volunteers who helped us raise over $1.5 million that will directly benefit the Baltimore and Greater Maryland community by funding lifesaving research and initiatives, including our work to address nutrition security, increase awareness about hypertension and signs of stroke, and continue to build our Nation of Lifesavers by teaching more people how to perform Hands-only CPR in a cardiac emergency,” Brazelton said.
The 2023 Heart Walk was chaired by Craig Carmichael, the president of Northwest Hospital and senior vice president of LifeBridge Health.
“As the President of Northwest Hospital, a healthcare leader, and chair of the 2023 Greater Maryland Heart Walk, it has truly been an honor to serve. I would like to thank all the participants that made this such an outstanding fundraising year,” Carmichael said. “We are closing in on our best year ever! The warm, energy and enthusiasm of the entire team including the coaches and Heart Walk executive team members helped in making this a success. Thank you to so many for stepping up and supporting our families, neighbors and our communities.”
Craig Carmichael, president of Northwest Hospital and chairman of the 2023 Greater Maryland Heart Walk, cuts the ribbon to start the walk with an assist from Towson University’s mascot.
The Greater Maryland Heart Walk is the signature event of the American Heart Association’s Heart Challenge program which is designed to help companies positively impact employee overall health and wellbeing. The program is anchored in a series of customizable workplace events that inspires employees to be more engaged, reconnect with colleagues, get in their physical activity, support a great cause and have a lot of fun doing it.
The funds raised from the Greater Maryland Heart Walk go toward research, advocacy, CPR training and to promote better health in support of the Association’s 2024 Health Equity Impact Goal, reducing barriers to health care access and quality. Visit www2.heart.org to learn more. Donations can continue to be made through Dec. 31.
The 2022 Greater Maryland Heart Walk is sponsored by LifeBridge Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine, the University of Maryland Medical System and MedStar Health, among other local sponsors.