LT. GOVERNOR LEADS EFFORT AGAINST HEART DISEASE
Aug 4 - With an estimated 2,500 walkers
in attendance, Lt. Governor Aiona led the 14th Annual Heart Walk at
Kapi`olani Park to counter health risks such as heart disease and
stroke.
After delivering brief remarks to kick off the event, the Lt. Governor
began the walk as pacesetter. Walkers logged between one and five miles for
the awareness campaign, which was sponsored by the American Heart
Association Hawai`i.
Out of all the organizations that donated to the effort, the State of
Hawai`i came in second with the most contributions.
The campaign is in line with the Lingle-Aiona Administration's Healthy
Living Initiative, which encourages the development of healthy living habits
that can prevent illnesses such as heart disease - the leading cause of
deaths in the state.
According to the state Department of Health, more than 2,200 people in
Hawai`i died of heart disease in 2005.
The goal of the walk is to help reduce disability and death from heart
disease and stroke. To achieve that, walkers were encouraged to live healthy
lifestyles by exercising regularly and eating a vegetable-rich
diet.
