Photo Credit: Courtesy of AHA

On December 10th, hundreds of friends, teams, local companies, and sponsors came together at Maurice A. Ferré Park for the annual Heart Walk held by the American Heart Association (AHA). The Heart Walk, chaired by David Donaldson, CEO of HCA Florida Mercy Hospital, is in an effort to support lifesaving cardiovascular research, advocacy efforts, and community programming. This year alone, close to one thousand walkers came together to walk for longer and healthier lives in South Florida.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of AHA

To put the day in motion, Eileen Carden, News Anchor with Univision announced Grace Chaffins, American Heart Association Volunteer, and former Hispanic Serving Institutions Scholar, to sing the National Anthem. Following, was a live fitness warmup by Dr. Allan Steward, Chief of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery at HCA Florida, with tunes by DJ Adam Mack with Esquire Events.

“The Heart Walk is about getting people moving, celebrating life and caring for all of the hearts we love,” said Marisol Garcia, executive director of the American Heart Association in Greater Miami/Fort Lauderdale. “Thank you to our walkers, sponsors, and incredible volunteers who charged forward to make this year’s Walk so successful.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of AHA

By the end of the walk, the AHA raised heartbeats and over $653,000 to save and improve lives across the community. For nearly 100 years, the American Heart Association has been fighting heart disease and stroke and helping families and communities thrive. Funds raised by the Heart Walk ensure that more cardiovascular research is funded, more hospitals administer the highest standards of care, and more lives are saved.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of AHA

The event was made possible with the support of our local 2022 Miami-Dade Heart Walk Sponsors, including, Schiller Americas, Niklaus Children’s Hospital, Community Care Plan, Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Baptist Health South Florida, HCA Florida Healthcare, Florida Power and Light, First National Bank of South Miami, One Beat, Almazan Law, CITY Furniture, KIDZ Medical, LaCroix, Professional Bank, Ryder, The Kemper Foundation, Victoria Nursing & Rehabilitation, Inc., and our media sponsors Brickell Magazine, Miami Kids Magazine, Univision23 and WSVN.

Donations in support of the Miami-Dade Heart Walk can be made through the end of 2022 at www.MiamiDadeHeartWalk.org.