River City Heart Walk

River City Heart Walk Saturday at Rainbow


The River City Heart Walk is back for the 12th year, but in a new place this time.

The walk, which will include children’s activities and other entertainment, will be Saturday at the Rainbow Event Center at 1380 Warrenton Road. Last year’s walk was at Riverfront Park.

“We’re always excited to host this event in our city,” said Diane Gawronski, chairman of the 2010 River City Heart Walk. “Mississippi has a high propensity to heart disease. The walk helps bring awareness to heart disease. Many who walk do so in honor of those they lost to heart disease.”

Events will kick off with registration at 8:30 a.m., and the walk begins at 9. Participants will walk on a designated sidewalk, which wraps around the event center and offers views of the Mississippi River. Activities will be featured inside the event center.

“There will be all types of activities for children,” said Gay Smith, special events coordinator for the American Heart & Stroke Association, which is sponsoring the walk in Vicksburg and others across the country. “We’ll have the normal health screenings like blood pressure, sugar and everything that has to do with heart disease.”

A DJ will provide entertainment.

“We’re going to have a fun-filled morning,” Smith said.

The goal is to raise $75,000.

“We’re at least halfway there,” Gawronski said. “But registration is still open.”

Funds will benefit AHA research and prevention programs.

“Every 37 seconds, someone dies from heart disease,” Smith said. “That equals out to 2,400 people a day.”

Walkers may join a team or start a team online at http://www.rivercityheartwalk.kintera.org/.

If You Go:
The River City Heart Walk will be Saturday at the Rainbow Event Center on Warrenton Road. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the walk will start at 9. Proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association. Call Gay Smith at 662-455-5343 or 662-753-9969.