Annual Devin Kravitz Memorial 5K to receive Heart Hero Award at Central MA Heart Walk

The American Heart Association will recognize the Devin Kravitz Memorial 5K with a Heart Hero Award at the annual Central MA Heart Walk on May 7th. The Memorial Race is being honored for its continuous support of the organization’s mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

On October 25, 2006, Race Director, Stuart Kravitz’s son, Devin, passed away in his sleep from cardiac arrest due to myocarditis, a heart condit

L-R; Stuart Kravitz, Austin Kravitz, Janet King - Inset Devin Kravitz

L-R; Stuart Kravitz, Austin Kravitz, Janet King – Inset Devin Kravitz

ion of a viral origin. Devin, was planning on starting at the Police Academy later that year and his son, Austin, was born the following May.

After Devin passed away, Kravitz and his family started the Devin Kravitz Memorial 5K Race/Walk in order to raise funds and awareness of heart disease and myocarditis. This Labor Day weekend, will mark the 10th year of the Race/Walk with more than $39,000 raised for heart disease and myocarditis research and education, with more than $25,000 going directly to the American Heart Association.

“The Race is an opportunity for people to come together, get active, enjoy the day and celebrate Devin’s life,” explained Kravitz. “It’s definitely a bittersweet day. Devin would have loved having everyone come together.”

Kravitz and other volunteers from the Annual Devin Kravitz Memorial 5K Walk/Run will provide face painting for kids at this year’s Central MA Heart Walk. Stuart and Devin’s mother, Janet King, will be accepting the Heart Hero Award during the stage program on Walk day.

“Over the past 10 years, the Devin Kravitz Memorial 5K Race/Walk have raised critical awareness and funds for heart disease and myocarditis,” said Blair Young, Senior Director of the American Heart Association. “They have worked tirelessly to lead the community in the fight against heart disease and the impact the event has made is truly extraordinary.”

The Central MA Heart Walk will be held rain or shine on Saturday, May 7th, at the DCR’s Quinsigamond State Park, Lake Park in Worcester. Registration begins at 8:30am and the walk kicks-off at 9:30am, with all survivors invited to the stage for the Red Cap wave. The Heart Walk is sponsored nationally by Subway Restaurants and locally sponsored by UMass Memorial Health Care, Saint Vincent Hospital, Bay State Savings Bank, Consigli Construction, Commerce Bank, EasCare, Fallon Health, Milford Regional Medical Center, Vibra Hospital of Central MA Central Campus and The Meadows, MedStar Ambulance and Reliant Medical Group. Media sponsors include WXLO Radio and Charter TV3. For more information, please visit www.CentralMAHeartWalk.org.