UHCL community to walk in support of American Heart Association

The number one killer in the United States consists of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. By confronting it head-on, the American Heart Association (AHA) is dedicated to creating healthier lives.

On Saturday, Nov. 10, the UHCL family will join hundreds of local individuals and companies for the 2018 Bay Area Heart Walk to raise money for critical research, programs and services necessary to improve the lives of Bay Area Houston community members.

The event will be located at Kemah Boardwalk (215 Kipp Ave., Kemah, TX 77565). Parking is available at Kemah Boardwalk. Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. and the opening ceremony will be at 8:30 a.m. The walk begins at 9 a.m. The length of the walk is 3.1 miles. Last year, the AHA raised $2.36 million. Typically, over one million people participate in this event every year.

UHCL currently has nine members on the faculty and staff team which includes Cassidy Matlock, graphic design major; Colden Snow, program assistant of the orientation and new student programs; Denise Cazes, program director of the fitness and human performance program; Jana Willis, department chair of literacy, library and learning technology; Kathy Kirchner, associate director of the support center; Lifei Sheng, assistant professor of decision sciences; Lisa White, grant administrator in the office of sponsored programs; Melissa Coen, environmental health and safety coordinator; and Richard Zalesak, associate director of development of university advancement.

Additionally, there is a UHCL alumni and friends team led by Tiphaine Justice, alumna, that has raised $1,080. The student team led by Brian Mills, director of campus recreation and wellness, has raised $125. The faculty and staff team has raised $835, which adds to the overall $2,040 the UHCL teams have collectively raised for the AHA.

Cazes, who has walked the last few years with UHCL’s group, will be participating in this year’s heart walk on behalf of her father, who had his first bypass at age 47. He suffered from cardiovascular disease his whole life. At times he tried to fight back by eating right and walking but he could not seem to stick with the healthy lifestyle that was needed to fight the disease.

Her father passed away from a heart attack this past May at the age of 84. Caezs said ironically that he was also a cardiovascular surgeon and her mother is a cardiac rehab nurse and educator.

“I grew up learning about this disease as well as experiencing the effects of it firsthand,” Cazes said. “I consider myself a health educator and have a passion for helping others get on the P.A.T.H. (Pursing Actions Towards Health), which involves dietary changes, effective exercise, stress management and taking responsibility for your body and your health.”

Willis supports the Heart Walk by donating. Although she considers herself an “inactive supporter,” she continues to contribute. When Willis does walk, she walks for her grandfather, two grandmothers, and her father for heart disease. Her aunt, whom she was named after, suffered from angina for most of her life as well.

“A year ago, my youngest reminded me that when she became a parent one day, she would like me to be just as fun as a grandmother as I was to her sister’s children,” Willis said.

Willis decided at that moment that she needed to be more proactive about her health. She has accomplished many walking goals and continues to stay active as much as she can. She says she even tries to ‘wog,’which is her version of a walking and jogging combo.

Willis believes that staying healthy should be something people give their full attention to all the time and that it is something they can actually do for themselves any time and anywhere.

Snow has been walking for the past three years with the UHCL team.

“I find it to be a great organization and I like the attention it brings to heart disease, the resources they have for prevention and for people that may be suffering from heart-related issues,” Snow said. “As someone who has been both directly and indirectly affected by heart disease, it is important for me to be involved in an organization that does such great work.”

Although the AHA does not conduct research, the organization uses donations to fund research projects.

The AHA’s 2020 Impact Goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent by the year 2020. The AHA’s goal is $375,000; it has raised $250,710 so far.

For more information and to participate in the 2018 Bay Area Heart Walk, visit www.2.heart.org.