Heart walk fundraiser Saturday at Covelli Centre

youngstown

About 2,000 participants will meet at the Covelli Centre parking lot this morning for the Start! Heart Walk through the Youngstown Area American Heart Association.

The event starts at 9 a.m. with blood pressure screenings, stretching exercises, and team photos. The walk begins at 10:15 a.m. after opening ceremonies take place.

The yearly event raises money and awareness for the number one and number three killers in the United States: cardiovascular disease and stroke.

“A lot of even women aren’t aware that that’s their number one threat,” said Allison Oltmann, Start! Heart Walk director. “There’s a huge educational component to this. If you aren’t aware you won’t take the proper precautions.”

This year’s goal was to raise $232,000. As of Friday, the event had received $108,409.

For more on this story, see Saturday’s Vindicator or vindy.com