The entire Wayne State community is invited to get active and help stamp out heart disease on Saturday, May 18, during the 26th annual Metro Detroit Heart Walk and Stroke Walk/Run. Wayne State is playing its part in making metro Detroit healthier, working toward the day when heart disease is no longer the number one reason to lose a loved one.

However, it takes a village to make an impact. It's not too late to register a team or join an existing one. The first 500 registrants will receive a newly designed WSU Heart Walk Warriors T-shirt. To register a new team, visit the Heart Walk website and click on the red tab, "Create a team." To join an existing team, visit the same website and explore the nearly 50 WSU teams that have already been created.

Can’t make it on May 18 but still want to donate? No worries — donations can be made to the team of your choice.

There is no registration fee and no minimum pledge to walk. However, fundraising is encouraged to help support the mission of the American Heart Association. Every donation makes a difference. There is a $35 registration fee to participate in the 5K run until May 10, after which, the fee increases to $40. It’s encouraged to register online in advance for quicker check-in on the day of the event.

The Heart Walk itinerary is as follows:

• 7:30 a.m. – 5K run registration
• 8 a.m. – Festival grounds open and activities begin. Donation drop-off and check-in. There will be all sorts of companies giving away freebies, conducting health screenings and providing hands-only CPR training. There will also be a survivor area, along with tributes to loved ones and a Kid’s Zone, featuring fun activities.
• 9 a.m. – 5K run begins
• 9:45 a.m. – Opening ceremony, immediately followed by Heart Walk (approximately 10 a.m.)

Participants are also asked to bring one non-perishable, heart-healthy item to Heart Walk for donation to The W Food Pantry, which supports currently enrolled Wayne State students by providing resources (i.e., non-perishable food, toiletries and feminine hygiene items) to reduce food and other insecurities they may face.

The Heart Walk is a premier fundraising campaign that welcomes more than 1 million people in more than 300 cities across the United States to take a stand against heart diseases and stroke. By 2020, the American Heart Association’s goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent.

Volunteers needed

In addition to Heart Walk participants and donors, Wayne State also seeks volunteers to help on May 17 and 18. The jobs are fun and easy. On Friday, May 17, volunteers will help to get the festival grounds ready, set up signage and organize runner shirts, among other tasks. On Saturday, volunteers are needed to guide guests at parking structures, cheer them on at the start and finish lines, help at activity tables for kids and at the Wayne State information tent, and more.

Whether you can only spare an hour or two, or spend an entire morning or afternoon with us, your help is greatly needed and appreciated. Be a part of the important Heart Walk Hero team. To volunteer, sign up here . In the Employer section of the questionnaire, please state “Wayne State University.”

If you can only work part of a shift, it is not a problem. Volunteers will be provided a meal, along with a Heart Walk T-shirt for helping out. Volunteer questions can be directed to Julie O’Connor at julie.oconnor@wayne.edu.