Heart Walk and Kids Fun Run
Murphy Medical Center's Foundation 5K Challenge

Looking to meet a fun group on a Saturday morning while helping your community?

Join the in-crowd on September 16th for the Murphy Medical Center Foundation's 5K Challenge and Heart Walk. Starting 9 am at Murphy Medical Center, this is one of Western North Carolina's best road races. Walkers, Runners, Joggers and Fitness Enthusiasts of all ages and ability are invited to participate.

Not only could you walk or run away with a great trophy, but you'll be part of the foundation family to help purchase new equipment for the Mountain Heart's Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program. Amy Trout RN, Director of the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Department is so appreciative of the community's past support.

"Last year, with the support of the community, we were able to buy a brand new telemetry heart monitoring system for Cardiac Rehab," Trout said. "We were able to double our monitoring capabilities."

This year, 100 people who've suffered from heart attacks or other heart related problems use the program to help them regain control of their lives. Use of the Mountain Hearts Cardiac Rehabilitation has increased by 30% from last year. Recent studies show that patients completing a full cardiac rehabilitation program can reduce their chances of another heart attack by 50 percent.

This individually planned rehabilitation program is multifaceted.

Mountain Hearts Cardiac rehabilitation program offers patients and their family emotional support, nutritional assessments and stress management as well as the educational and exercise components.

Each newly diagnosed or beginner patient has a pre-program assessment which includes a "walk test" and a history and physical assessment. Staff members work closely with the patient's physician to design a rehab program around each patient's specific needs and personal goals. Patients are shown how to use each piece of equipment. Each patient is monitored by using a specialized wireless transmitter to send a tracings of his or hear heart's rhythm to a monitor. The highly trained rehab staff consisting of nurses, a respiratory therapist and an exercise specialist regularly monitors their exercising client's blood pressure, heart rate and rhythms.

So, have a great time, running or walking while supporting your community's cardiac rehabilitation program through the Murphy Medical Center Foundation. Join us at the 5K Challenge and Heart Walk, September 16th at Murphy Medical Center located 5 miles from Murphy, North Carolina on US Highway 64 East.

Hurry race registration ends soon for the 5K and Heart Walk, $15.00 pre-registered, $20.00 race day. Kid's Fun Run is free. Yes, it really is 9 am on a Saturday.

For more information on Mountain Hearts Cardiac Rehabilitation, call Amy Trout at (828) 837-6815