The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization dedicated to becoming a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives is hosting the Joe F. Reed Memorial Heart Walk May 18 at Clark Regional Medical Center.

This event has been instrumental in innovative breakthroughs over the last 25 years. Since the inception of the Heart Walk, mortality rates from cardiovascular disease and stroke have plummeted by 45 percent. Each walker and each donation has helped to transform health statistics into lives saved, but there is more work to be done.

The walk is among 300 Heart Walks taking place in communities across the nation. Nearly 1 million people walk each year for a singular mission, to cure heart disease and stroke.

The Joe F. Reed Memorial Heart Walk will feature a noncompetitive walk through the campus of Clark Regional Medical Center. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the walk kicking off at 9:30 a.m. A community health fair will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Raymond Smith, CRMC board of trustees chair, said the Heart Walk is still focused on its initial assignment, funding groundbreaking research through the passion of walking together to change lives.

“I am honored to serve and play a role in the promise of a better future for younger generations to live,” he said.

Each time someone laces up their shoes or forms a team to participate in the Heart Walk they are instrumental in innovative breakthroughs. Every donation helps create new technologies such as the artificial heart valve, cholesterol drugs, stents and the mechanical heart pump which helps extend the life of patients.

Barbara Kinder, interim CEO and the Healthy for Good sponsor of the event, said the American Heart Association has carved a place in the history of health by saying yes to progressing lifesaving science.

“The science of how we respond to heart disease and stroke has progressed tremendously,” she said. “With a new generation lacing up their shoes to participate in the Heart Walk, I am excited to see the big solutions to come.”

Each day, about 2,150 Americans die from heart disease from cardiovascular disease — the No. 1 killer in the United States. Stroke, the No. 5 killer and a leading cause of severe disability, claims the lives of nearly 219,000 each year.

The Heart Walk is open to the community as all are welcome to participate and change the story of heart disease and stroke in Central Kentucky. Those who walk are committed to funding research that keeps hearts beating.

Sheri Reynolds, Clark Regional team captain, said what makes the company passionate about walking is the funds raised go to fueling hearts.

“Real human anatomical hearts,” she said “What our Heart Walk team knows is that gratification isn’t about what you get when you give. It is about the satisfaction of knowing that your dollar isn’t going in a back pocket. Your dollar is going to change a life.”

Over the past 25 years, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association have funded $3.4 billion in research. But the work is far from done. The American Heart Association is nearing the $5 billion mark as we work to fund big ideas to pioneer breakthroughs in our understanding and treatment of heart disease and stroke.

For more information visit heart.org/centralKYWalk or call 859-317-6885.