Flash greets eight-year-old Sydnie Brown,
and her mother, Melissa Lucas, at the
Heart Walk. Sydnie had her first heart
surgery at the age of one.

The campus team from Kent State University at Ashtabula raised $10,000 in the 2010 Ashtabula County Heart Walk that took place in October at the GaREAT sports complex in Geneva, Ohio. The campus has had a team participate in the American Heart Association fundraiser for the county for the past three years, raising more than $20,000.

In 2010, Dr. Susan Stocker, (pictured, front left) dean and chief administrative officer of Kent State Ashtabula, was the county chairperson for the event. "I served as chair of the American Heart Association Heart Walk because as a registered nurse, I know that heart disease and stroke are the greatest health threats our employees face," says Stocker. "Unfortunately, Ohio continues to remain at the top of the list of states that are most impacted by these diseases."

Daryl Estremera, Heart Walk director of the Cleveland Great Rivers region, reports that 39 companies and 742 walkers participated from Ashtabula County, raising a grand total of $161,866, a 15 percent increase over last year in dollars raised.

"Dean Stocker played a huge role as chairperson for the Ashtabula County Heart Walk," Estremera says. "Her passion and commitment to the American Heart Association and our cause is the reason why we were so successful. It was an honor to work with her, and I am truly grateful for all of her hard work and dedication."

Of the 742 walkers, 134 were from the Kent State Ashtabula campus team. In addition to recruiting walkers, Lori Lee, senior special assistant at Kent State Ashtabula and the campus leader for the Heart Walk, coordinated a number of additional fundraisers on the campus. "We strived for 100 percent participation of all faculty, staff and students," says Lee. "If people were unable to join us for the actual walk, we wanted to provide other opportunities for them to contribute."

Other fundraising events included a raffle for two tickets to a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game, weekly campus lunches throughout the summer sponsored by different campus departments and a dunk tank at the Fall Week Carnival in September 2010. "The dunk tank was especially fun," continues Lee. "Students were lined up to try to dunk faculty members who were sitting in the tank!"

"I'm extremely proud of all of our staff, faculty and students who participated in this year's Heart Walk," Stocker says. "It shows the commitment we all have to supporting our community and doing whatever we can to help battle this disease that has affected so many of our lives."