Heart Run & Walk sets goal at $1.05M

America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk will take place a week later than usual this year, which gives participants more time to raise this year's net goal of $1,050,000, said event organizers at Tuesday night's kick-off ceremony.

The festivities took place at Union Station, and organizers announced the following Heart Run Weekend events will take place the first weekend in March:

* The 37th annual WIBX Heart Radiothon will take place Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8.

* The Health & Fitness Expo will take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, March 7.

* WKTV Heart Telethon will take place Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8.

* The run and walks will take place Saturday, March 8.

"America's Heart Run & Walk is ranked 18th out of 450 Heart Walk events that take place across the country," said Mary Kate Hartmann, communications director for the Heart Association. "Our contributions for the event are one of the highest in the country, if you look at all the individual walkers' pledges."

That's no surprise to Mattia, who said America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk is one of the region's biggest events of the year.

"Like the Boilermaker, this event is quite old," said Dick Mattia, executive director of the American Heart Association. "It's been going on for more than 30 years. But the interest hasn't waned, it only gets stronger. Maybe it's because the volunteer base is quite similar to that of the Boilermaker."

At the kick-off, Red Cap Ambassadors spoke to the large audience.

Formerly known as inspirational honorees, Red Cap Ambassadors are individuals who have tales of survival.

Joe Phelps, 46, of Norwich, is one of them.

"This is phenomenal," he said of Tuesday's party atmosphere at the train station. "The Heart Association put me where I am today. I've benefited from the research."

Born with pulmonic stenosis, Phelps has endured several open-heart surgeries. In June 2006, he was given a homographic valve and had his tricuspid valve repaired. He said he tries to stay in shape by training for the Heart Run & Walk, which he will participate in with his wife, Debbie, and their two daughters.

"I've been involved on and off for 15 years," Phelps said.

"We were told before his third surgery there was nothing more they could do," Debbie Phelps said. "We looked to the Heart Association, and here we are."

Matthew Moore, who co-owns the Subway in Rome, will lead Team Isabel Moore for the third year. The team is named after his daughter.

Isabel Moore was born with an interrupted aortic arch, which meant her aorta was not connected to her aorta valve, Matthew Moore said.

He said the local Heart Association has become like an extended family to him.

"For us, it's a great way to meet people - people who have had surgeries with the same doctor, waited in the same waiting room," Moore said.

Balancing food and beverages, Moore said it was great to see his "family" in one room.

"We're trying to raise awareness," he said. "Last year, we felt like we were able to get through to people."

Observer-Dispatch