Valerie Cassity
Special to the Sun

Fifty-two percent of all female deaths in America occur from cardiovascular disease, particularly coronary heart disease and stroke, reports the American Heart Association. It kills more women than all forms of cancer, chronic lung disease, pneumonia, diabetes, accidents, and AIDS combined.

Organizers of the Kern Valley Hospital Foundation’s 12th annual All Valley Heart Walk are out to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and its prevention. “It’s why we walk,” said Heart Walk organizer Jeanette Rogers. Saturday’s event will take place at the Kern Valley High School track. The Foundation is aiming for 100 teams’ participation this year, a significant increase from the 35 teams that took part in the first Heart Walk. Each team, consisting of four walkers and a team manager, gets a free lunch, and their $50 entry fees are distributed to local charities. Twenty percent of the funds go to the Foundation, and the other 80 percent can be donated to a charity of each team’s choice or to the KVHF. The money donated to the Foundation will be used wherever it is most needed, said Rogers.

This year, two teams will be walking in memory of Kern Valley community members who passed in the last year; Donald Wright, an aviation enthusiast and member of the KRV Lodge #827 Free and accepted Masons; and Sheryl Muncy, formerly of the Kern Valley Sun, who passed away in a tragic car accident on the day of the 2009 Heart Walk. The three Whiskey Flat candidates will also walk representing their causes; Turncoat Chris for the BMX Bike Track, Cimmaron Cynthia for the ECHO Health Academy, and winner Tenderfoot Tony for the valley’s youth football program. Rogers was pleased that several former heart patients will be walking this year, celebrating their continued good health. In addition, other members of the “Senior Set” are being sponsored by their children, sometimes walking together as a family team. Also, the Hospital Auxiliary has paid to sponsor three teams so that anyone who wants to participate can get out and walk.

For more information about the Heart Walk, or to find out how you can get involved, call Jeanette Rogers at 376-4419.