YUKI JIANG: The 37th year of Syracuse Hart Challenge is around the corner. But this year, due to the pandemic, the annual event is going digital.
KRISTY SMOROL: We are all dealing with everything in a new way.
JIANG: Typically Heart Challenge was about 36 hundred people coming to the SRC arena on the Onondaga Community College campus. They had a big festival beforehand, lots of different activities, vendors, and then went out on a walk. Not gonna be that again, but participants can take part a day of movement by doing any of the following:
Take a walk outside.
Try out a few strengthening exercises like push-ups, lunges and squats.
Create an at-home circuit workout.
Get the whole family involved and have an indoor dance party.
And post pictures and videos to document their activity.
Communication Director of American Heart Association Kristy Smorol says they want people to get moving.
SMOROL: We are encouraging people to walk and move however they can, wherever they can. And we can still be together digitally and share this experience by moving more.
JIANG: Besides encouraging physical activity, Heart Challenge also aims to celebrate heart and stroke survivors, and raising funds for medical research and front-line workers to continue the fight against heart disease. 29 year-old Tabitha Ellis is one of the survivors.
JIANG: Born with a hole in her heart, Ellis’ early childhood was defined by heart monitors, prodding tubes, and not being able to play with other kids. She says she’s alive today because of the American Heart Association and the donors. She was able to get the treatment for an open heart surgery. From then on she is pretty good, fighting her way through life, and doing the best that she can.
TABITHA ELLIS: Medically speaking, I’ve been through lots of challenges in my life. But it was walking through these challenges with a positive mind and staying hopeful for the future ahead of me. It really made me realize that you can and will come out stronger afterwards.
JIANG: Heart disease claims many lives every year. But to prevent it, you can start by having a healthy lifestyle, even simply walking. The Syracuse Heart Challenge will start this Sunday. Let’s walk and move.
JIANG: Yuki Jiang, NCC News.
SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC News) – The 37th year of Syracuse Hart Challenge is around the corner. However, this year, the annual event is going digital due to the pandemic.
“We are all dealing with everything in a new way,” Kristy Smorol, communication director of American Heart Association, said.
In normal years, Heart Challenge had about 3,600 people coming to the SRC arena on the Onondaga Community College campus. They had a big festival beforehand, lots of different activities, vendors, and then went out on a walk. On Apr. 18, participants can take part a day of movement by doing any of the following:
Take a walk outside (while following current social distancing guidelines).
Get the whole family involved and have an indoor dance party.
Try out a few strengthening exercises like push-ups, lunges and squats.
Create an at home circuit workout.
On the day of the event, everyone is encouraged to wear red and post pictures and videos to document their activity on Facebook using #SyrHeartWalk.
“We are encouraging people to walk and move however they can, wherever they can,” Smorol said. “And we can still be together digitally and share this experience by moving more.”
Besides encouraging physical activity, Heart Challenge also aims to celebrate heart and stroke survivors, and raising funds for medical research and front-line workers to continue the fight against heart disease.
29 year-old Tabitha Ellis is one of the survivors.
Born with a hole in her heart, Ellis’ early childhood was defined by heart monitors, prodding tubes, and not being able to play with other kids. According to her, she’s alive today because of the American Heart Association and the donors. She was able to get the treatment for an open heart surgery. From then on she is pretty good, fighting her way through life, and doing the best that she can.
“Medically speaking, I’ve been through lots of challenges in my life,” Ellis said. “But it was walking through these challenges with a positive mind and staying hopeful for the future ahead of me. It really made me realize that you can and will come out stronger afterwards.”
