Thousands of people in Niagara experience serious cardiac problems every year. Thousands more are at risk for developing heart disease. 

The Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being offers supports and services to people living with cardiovascular issues.

The centre, in partnership with the Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada, is hosting the annual Walk of Life fundraiser to raise money and awareness for heart disease prevention, education and cardiovascular rehabilitation.

This year’s annual Walk of Life will take place on Friday, Sept. 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 130 Lockhart Dr. in St. Catharines.

“Each year there are over 4,500 cardiac events that require hospitalization in Niagara, and a vastly greater number of people are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease,” says Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being Director, Deborah O’Leary.

“The Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being provides a much-needed service for the Niagara Region as heart disease accounts for a significant number of deaths amongst residents. We serve the people of the Niagara Region, and are able to do so through events such as the Walk of Life,” says O’Leary.

100 per cent of the money raised goes back into the Centre to be able to purchase exercise equipment and improve our members’ experience.

Walk of Life is a national campaign that includes participants from 30 cardiac rehabilitation centres across Canada.

“We are very happy to be taking part in the national Walk of Life campaign and appreciate the support we have received to be able to bring this opportunity to our community. Through this partnership, 100 per cent of the money raised goes back into the Centre to be able to purchase exercise equipment and improve our members’ experience,” says O’Leary.

Brock-Niagara Centre members, and the Brock and Niagara community, are invited to register in teams of three. Each team will exercise for one hour to occupy one of several exercise stations – treadmills, bikes, rowers or ellipticals. Participants can also choose to do a 60-minute walk outdoors.

Students and staff can also take part in the annual circuit showdown to “crown” the fittest team. The goal for the Brock-Niagara Centre is to see how many stations we can occupy for eight hours.

“All of our exercise participants will be supervised by our staff and wonderful student volunteers,” says O’Leary.

Rolling Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Exercise activities will change every hour. Complimentary snacks and refreshments will be served at noon and prizes will be given to the top three fundraisers.

The Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being is a non-profit organization committed to cardiac rehabilitation and prevention.

All of the community programming offered through the Brock-Niagara Centre involves cardiovascular exercise, weight training, as well as ‘heart health’ educational seminars. We have treadmills, both upright and recumbent bikes, arc trainers, rowing machines, arm ergometers as well as a wide range of weight machines.

For more information or to register a team visit http://hwc.brockubeta.ca/walk-of-life/walk-of-life-2016/