Cardiovascular disease, which includes stroke, is the leading cause of death in Maine. The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health, is finalizing preparations for the 2024 Maine Heart Walk on May 19th. The Heart Walk is part of a community campaign focused on engaging local companies, corporations and their employees to join the fight against heart disease and stroke.
This major Association fundraiser will be chaired by Charlie Therrien, senior vice president of Northern Light Health and president of Northern Light Mercy Hospital. Therrien and his committee have set a goal to raise $545,000 through corporate donations and walk teams.
Charlie Therrien
“I’m excited to lead this very successful, longtime event here in Maine as the American Heart Association celebrates 100 years of saving and improving lives,” said Therrien. “I lost my mother to a stroke and my family has a significant history of heart disease. The good news is that heart disease and stroke are largely preventable and how you eat, move and manage stress impacts your well-being. The Heart Walk provides resources, tools and activities to support both mental and physical well-being for employers and employees.”
Kathleen Jordan
The Heart Walk will kick off with a morning celebration hosted by Channel 8 WMTW’s Kathleen Jordan and 101.9 POR’s Courtney Ross. Pre-walk festivities starting at 8 a.m. feature healthy snacks and several activities including yoga demonstrations, bubble wrap to stomp out stress, a vegetable seeds giveaway, and viewing the L.L. Bean Bootmobile.
Barry Gabloff
Barry Gabloff, director of sales, Portland Radio Group will be sharing his inspiring survivor story and the lifesaving measures of his friend and the first responders when he suffered cardiac arrest while playing basketball. There will also be awards given and useful prevention information aimed at inspiring people to improve their heart and brain health.
As chair of the Maine Heart Walk, Therrien has led a team of local executives to recruit companies and organizations to raise funds for the American Heart Association while leading action-oriented conversations about employee health, corporate engagement, community health and community transformation.
Serving in leadership roles on the Heart Walk Executive Leadership Team are: Sarah Belliveau, BerryDunn; Dustin Brooks, Unum; Andrew Cook, Mascoma Bank; Catherine Graham, Encompass Health; Robert Hatem, Hannaford Supermarkets; Nab Kundu, New England Rehabilitation Hospital; David Landry, Spectrum Healthcare Partners; Beth LeBlanc, LL Bean; Denise McDonough, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield; Thomas Morrione, Encompass Health; Jagtar Narula, WEX; Douglas B. Sawyer, MD, MaineHealth; Scott Tompkins, A/Z Corporation – A Cianbro Company; Garnet Valliere, WEX; Nathalie Voisine, Spectrum Healthcare Partners; Brenda Williams, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield; and Steve Woods, Tidesmart/Promerica.
The 2024 Maine Heart Walk is sponsored by MaineHealth, Northern Light Mercy Hospital, Spectrum Healthcare Partners, Martin’s Point Healthcare, L.L. Bean, WEX Inc., and BerryDunn. Media sponsors are Channel 8 WMTW and Maine’s CW, 101.9 POR and Mainebiz.
“Every walker who joins and every dollar donated means more research, more people trained in lifesaving CPR, more medical breakthroughs and more champions for equitable health,” said Therrien. “Join your friends, family and co-workers to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Take the first step in saving lives by registering for the Maine Heart Walk.”
To register for the Maine Heart Walk and for event information, visit www.MaineHeartWalk.org. For details on corporate sponsorships and other questions, please contact Tim Gatz, the Association’s Development Director for the Maine Heart Walk, at [email protected].