St. Mary’s is hosting two Heart Walk Fundraisers this weekend in Athens and Oconee County.
The hospital is holding a yard sale and fall festival Saturday to raise funds and awareness for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s mission to fight heart disease and stroke.
Public Relations Manager Mark Ralston says raising awareness and funds
“Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in America, and also stroke, which is caused by cardiovascular disease, is the number one cause of disability for adults. It doesn’t have to be that way,” Ralston says.
The festival will also include hands-only CPR, blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, stroke awareness, early heart attack care, Rethink Your Drink sugar awareness, breast cancer awareness and more.
“With lifestyle changes, we can make a big difference and cut down the numbers of people who are harmed by these diseases. We can reduce the amount of suffering and death people experience, Ralston says.
From 8 am until noon, members of the community are invited to St. Mary's Engineering Department's Annual Heart Walk Yard Sale, near the hospital at 2175 W. Broad Street, Athens.
From 10 am until 1 pm, the entire family can take part in the Heart Walk Festival at St. Mary’s Outpatient, Rehab, and Wellness Center on Daniells Bridge Road.
All proceeds from St. Mary's Sept. 8 events will become part of the system's donation to this year's Clarke/Oconee Heart Walk, slated for Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at Oconee Veterans Park.
