COCONUT GROVE, FLA. (WSVN) - Hundreds of community members took part in the Miami-Dade Heart Walk.
The American Heart Association partnered with volunteers for the annual charity walk-a-thon in Coconut Grove on Saturday morning.
Heart disease and stroke survivors participated to bring awareness to the importance of the heart.
“In 2019, I suffered a stress-induced heart attack at the age of 36, a very scary event, but stress can kill you,” said heart attack survivor Eli Ferradas. “So I’m here today to raise awareness for heart disease and to meet fellow survivors. It does not discriminate and so we want people to be aware, to be educated, to understand the signs and the symptoms of cardiac disease.”
Over $500,00 was raised as part of the heart disease survivors walking across the finish line.
WSVN anchor Ethan Calloway also took part in the special fundraising walk.
Ferradas said walks like these bring people together and heart attacks like hers can be a challenging thing to get through.
“Heart attacks can happen to anybody at any time, you never know. It was really challenging and a difficult thing to go through. But the healing process, I went to cardiac rehab, and you know I’m happy I have a second chance at life.”
The American Heart Association says cardiovascular disease occurs every 39 seconds and is the number one killer of people in the U.S.
Heart walks happen across the country, as over a million people have participated over the years.
Executive director Marisol Garcia said the money raised goes to research, educating, and helping people learn how to do CPR.
“Eighty-four cents of every dollar we raise goes back to medical research, medical advances, teaching our community the life-saving skill of CPR, going directly back into our community to address nutrition security, patient care, hypertension, so it really goes back into our community,” said Garcia. “So we’re very proud of the work we’re doing, there’s a lot more to be done, so that’s why we really count on our community to step up and support us.”
For those unable to attend but would like to support, click here.
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