UM Takes Top Fundraising Honors at American Heart Association Start! Heart Walk

10/13/2008

Thousands of fitness gear-clad community members gathered at Miami’s Tropical Park on October 11 for the Start! Heart Walk, a 5K event that raised $523,000 to support the American Heart Association’s mission to prevent heart attack and stroke.

Alex Goldschmidt, Dean Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D., Dr. Hare and Dr. Sacco at the American Heart Association’s Start! Heart Walk.

NBC-6 anchor Roxanna Vargas hosted a short program to kick off the event, where she recognized the Miller School and UHealth as the "top new company" for raising $37,000 for the event, and UM Hospital employee Victor Vega as the top individual fundraiser.

Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., energized the crowd when he accepted the honor. "Miami has the best doctors and nurses in the country for fighting heart attack and stroke," said Goldschmidt, who received his first research grant from the American Heart Association, which allowed him to launch his career in cardiology. "We are proud to be their partner, proud to be UM, proud to be UHealth, and proud to bring the "U" to all of you."

Goldschmidt, whose 13-year old son Alex joined the UM team for the walk, also shared his thoughts on early prevention. "The key to preventing heart attack and stroke is prevention," said Goldschmidt. "Kids need to exercise and have a good diet, beginning at an early age."

In three tents under the themes "Celebrate Success," "Inspire Change," and "Create Hope," community organizations came together to host booths with information, healthy snacks and gifts including pedometers and miniature foam footballs. The Miller School’s booth featured a memorial wall where walkers could write a note in memory or in support of someone who had battled cardiovascular disease or stroke.

“I do this in honor of my mom, who I lost eight years ago to heart disease," said Martha Gonzalez, senior administrative assistant in medical finance, who walked along with more than 500 faculty, staff, students and their families as part of the UM team. "I walk every year, and it’s always for her."

Some of the University’s leaders in cardiovascular and stroke research also participated, including Eduardo de Marchena, M.D., associate dean for international medicine and director of the International Medicine Institute, Joshua M. Hare, M.D., chief of the Cardiovascular Division, and Ralph Sacco, M.D., M.S., chair of the Department of Neurology.

Dr. DeMarchena’s “Tropical Rhythms” walking group.

“The American Heart Association and the Miller School have a longstanding relationship built through decades of mutual support, and we are happy to raise money for them," said Hare. "They are the biggest supporters of research on stroke and heart disease, and since we have the biggest and best cardiac and stroke programs, so our missions are in alignment."

“The best thing about this event is that it gets people out walking, which is a great way to reduce risk for heart disease and stroke," said Sacco.