Hundreds of walkers raised tens of thousands of dollars for the American Heart Association, Saturday. Despite the rain, people flooded into Rentschler Field for the annual Hartford Heart Walk. The event was a family affair for Leigh Pechillo.
“When my son was a baby he was diagnosed with two congenital heart defects and had open heart surgery, six months after that my father had quadruple bypass surgery,” said Pechillo.
At the age of 44, Pechillo could not escape the silent killer herself.
“On Mother’s Day I actually collapsed at home after having heart burn, of a massive heart attack, and my husband saved my life using CPR,” she said.
Physical fitness is key to a healthy heart. Before the walk stepped off, Albert Staten of West Hartford was recognized for the changes he’s made since his heart attack.
“I’ve actually started to eat differently, I’m reading more labels than I ever read before as far as what I purchase. I’m actually starting to learn how to cook,” said Staten.
The goal is to raise $250,000 this year. Donations are still being accepted online: http://heartwalk.kintera.org.
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“The money we raise here really goes to fund research and a lot of important community based activities,” said Garth Graham, chair of this year’s event, and President of the Aetna Foundation.
From programs that teach CPR, to advocating healthy lifestyles, and research to end this deadly disease. Not only is heart disease the number one killer of men and women, but stroke is number four.
The money will also help young heart patients.
“At the Children’s Hospital we do about 150 cardiac surgeries every year,” said Dr. Seth Lapuk, a pediatric cardiologist at Connecticut Children’s Hospital.
Startled by his wife’s episode, Pechillo’s husband got checked out this summer and learned he had a congenital heart defect that had gone undetected his entire life.
“It’s a killer and we need to do everything we can to help save more lives and create more survivors,” Pechillo said.
