On a rainy Saturday morning, more than 3,500 walkers cruised over a 2.5-mile course on the University of Akron campus in the 2012 Akron Heart Walk, raising an estimated $500,000 for the American Heart Association.
That total is expected to grow because contributions to the walk will be accepted through Dec. 31, said spokeswoman Gina Berila.
The walk began with a short ceremony at UA’s Stile Athletics Field House and ended at InfoCision Stadium.
Heart survivors among the walkers proudly wore Red Caps of Courage. Youngsters who are heart survivors wore red capes. Others honoring family members and friends who did not survive heart disease wore special tribute stickers.
Dr. Tim Stover of Akron General Medical Center addressed the walkers at the beginning of the event. The center was the local sponsor of the walk.
Tim Daugherty and Sue Wilson of WONE-FM and WQMX-FM, served as emcees of the event.
Funds from the walk support continued cardiovascular and stroke research and education.
Heart disease kills an estimated 950,000 Americans annually and is the No. 1 cause of death in the country.