UT Health will host a Toledo Heart Walk pep rally from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 in the mall area by the Mulford Library.

UT Health employee and heart attack survivor Violet Townsend will be among the attendees. She will be available for media interviews.

“I will be celebrating my second chance,” the clerical specialist said. “It was scary having a heart attack. I went from not believing I had any heart issues to finding out that I had 70 percent blockage.”

The pep rally called Heart-Palooza is the precursor to the Greater Toledo Heart Walk at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 30 at the Huntington Center in downtown Toledo. All UT employees, including Townsend, are participating with a goal of raising $40,000 for the UT team. Dave Morlock, CEO of UT Health, is the chairman of the 2015 Toledo Heart Walk.

“I challenged our employees to raise $40,000 to this worthy cause because we at UT Health understand more than anyone how crucial heart health is to a person’s quality of life,” Morlock said. “Millions of Americans live with heart disease, stroke or a cardiovascular condition. Money generated from this walk will help fund the valuable research, education and advocacy efforts of the American Heart Association.”

Games, food and education will be among the festivities at Heart-Palooza. Harvey J. Steele from K100 Country will broadcast live from the event, which is free and open to the public. Reel 2 Real Studio will provide music.

Participants can pick up their UT team T-shirts during Heart-Palooza. Those who want to sign up for the Heart Walk can do so at the event.

“This is a great time for UT employees to come together and get excited about the Greater Toledo Heart Walk,” said Andrea Jacobs, marketing coordinator for the Heart and Vascular Center at UT Health. “Even if you aren’t able to participate in the actual walk, you can donate on behalf of a person or you can just come and support our walkers.

During Heart-Palooza can buy raffle tickets to win one of three prizes: an iPad, Fitbit or UT Health gift bag that contains branded merchandise and gift cards to Caffeini’s and the hospital gift shop. Tickets will be $1 for one; $5 for six; and $10 for an arm’s length of tickets. Proceeds from the raffle will go toward UT’s $40,000 fundraising goal.

For more information, go to heart.org/toledowalk

Media Coverage
WTOL 11 and NBC 24 (May 27, 2015)
The Blade (May 28, 2015)

Tags: The University of Toledo Medical Center (UTMC)