PARKERSBURG — Approximately 100 participants gathered for the American Heart Association’s (AHA) annual Heart Walk on Thursday at City Park, marking a special occasion as the organization celebrates its 100th anniversary.
“This is our 100th anniversary, and we’ve been celebrating at each of our events, recognizing our century of service,” said Amanda Sosebee, development director for the AHA.
The Heart Walk is one of the AHA’s major fundraising events. It honors heart disease survivors and raises awareness about heart health.
Sosebee highlighted the event’s role in motivating individuals to adopt active lifestyles and understand their health metrics, emphasizing that heart disease and stroke can impact anyone.
“Don’t think it can’t happen to you, because heart disease and stroke do not discriminate,” she warned.
Local resident Candance Jones shared her personal journey with heart disease, stressing the importance of being attentive to one’s body and symptoms. Despite leading an active lifestyle, she was shocked to discover a 99.9% blockage in her left anterior descending artery, commonly referred to as the “widowmaker,” after undergoing medical tests.
“I was pretty shocked to find this out,” Jones recalled. “I thought, ‘This can’t be true because I live a very active lifestyle.’”
Jones explained that her symptoms included tightness during exercise, which were initially dismissed by a nurse practitioner who remarked on her “perfect figure.” It was only after she insisted on further testing that the severity of her condition was revealed.
The cardiac catheterization procedure exposed the alarming blockage and prompted immediate medical intervention. Jones emphasized that her experience underscores the need for greater awareness of how heart disease can manifest differently in men and women.
Unlike classic symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath, her signs were more subtle. This highlights the necessity of listening to one’s body and advocating for appropriate medical care.
“Listen to your body, consider what’s going on, and communicate with your physicians about how you’re feeling,” Jones advised. “Things aren’t always as they seem.”
Lindsay Kupfner, the mother of a congenital heart defect survivor, served as the 2024 Walk Chair. She expressed gratitude for the support from attendees and emphasized that funds raised are vital for life-saving research, community education, and assistance for families affected by heart disease and stroke.
“It’s important for our community, even one as small as the Mid-Ohio Valley, to have these walks and events,” Kupfner stated. “They help us raise awareness and funds to continue fighting against conditions that affect people from all walks of life, from the elderly to newborns.”
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