Heart Walk is the American Heart Association's premier event for raising research dollars for heart disease and stroke — America’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers. 

Heart disease and stroke survivors are an important part of the Heart Walks. Participating in this year’s event October 24 will be stroke survivor Tia Ingram, profiled in VCU News two years ago. 

At the time of her stroke, Tia was 22 years old and pregnant, with no known risk factors for stroke. Fortunately she got to VCU Medical Center quickly, where surgeons performed a lifesaving thrombectomy to remove the clot blocking blood flow to her brain.

According to the AHA, on average, someone dies of a stroke every four minutes in the United States. Yet Tia is healthy, energetic and full of love for her two young sons. Tia exemplifies the positive results that come from Heart Walk research. 

 

 

VCU Health is an annual sponsor of the Heart Walk. Walks are taking place in more than 300 locations across the U.S. this fall, funding the kind of breakthrough science that saves lives every day. Participants will create their own route rather than walking as a group to comply with COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

To learn about Richmond-area walks, please visit the 2020 Richmond Heart Walk Digital Experience. For more information on VCU Health stroke services, visit our comprehensive stroke center. We provide advanced care for both routine and complex stroke patients, including rehabilitation. For heart services, visit our Pauley Heart Center.