Heart walkers have stories to tell during fundraiser

October 05, 2008 10:53 pm

— ASHTABULA - Dogs, children, adults and heart attack survivors all joined Sunday morning to raise money to fight heart disease.
The Start Heart Walk drew hundreds of area residents to Kent State University-Ashtabula Campus to walk several miles to improve their own health and fund research to fight the deadly disease.
Rob David, president of UH Medical Centers of Conneaut and Geneva, said there are 70 research projects related to heart disease going on in northeastern Ohio.
Bernd Lecjaks, an employee of Tegam, was wearing a red hat denoting his status as a recovering heart disease patient.
After suffering a burning in his chest 19 months ago, Lecjaks said he went to the doctor who found a 95 percent blockage in an artery. “I have three stints in my heart,” he said.
Lecjaks said he feels fortunate and was walking to help defeat heart disease.
“I usually walk at work during our breaks,” he said of the change in his lifestyle.
The Start program involves local companies encouraging their employees to walk on a regular basis, said J.D. Sidley, director of communications for the American Heart Association in Cleveland. He said the Sunday walk was a culmination of work that resulted in teams walking while wearing like-colored t-shirts.
Kevin Miller, chief executive officer of Ashtabula County Medical Center, said, “We are here to celebrate out lifestyle changes.” ACMC and UH Medical Centers of Geneva and Conneaut helped sponsor different aspects of the event.
David said $115,000 has already been raised this year.
Megan Quinn, director of the walk, said it will be several weeks before the final numbers are tabulated.
Aaron Esposito of Parma grew up in Ashtabula and came home to be a part of team DuFour that walked in memory of Hank, Elsie and George DuFour, who all died of heart disease.
“We’re doing this walk in memory of some family members we lost,” he said of the 20-member team decked out in white t-shirts.

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