Dallas Residents Turnout To
Bring A Buddy & Get Healthy Program
Pathway to a Healthy Heart Campaign Launches
Walking Program, Health Education Sessions and Area
Screenings
Dallas, Texas (May 21, 2005) –
Hundreds of Dallas residents brought buddies to the
Pathway to a Healthy Heart Campaign screening event
today at the JC Phelps Recreation Center in an effort
to reduce premature deaths due to cardiovascular disease.
Buddies took part in their first walk and received
health screenings.
“Over the next few months, we will be pounding
the pavement with Dallas residents and their buddies
- encouraging them to get up, get out and get moving,”
said Joyce Green of Paradigm International, who will
oversee the walking program.
The National Minority Health Month Foundation, American
Heart Association, Dallas Concilio, Paradigm International
and a coalition of local organizations kicked off
the campaign by unveiling a month-by-month schedule,
which includes free screenings for chronic illnesses,
complimentary health education sessions and a 12-week
walking program to promote healthier hearts among
Dallas residents.
“It is important to get the community aware
and engaged in order to improve health outcomes,”
said Felton Stevens, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center and American Heart Association Volunteer.
“We plan to interface directly with at risk
individuals to provide educational materials and answer
questions.”
Multiple screenings took place focusing on cholesterol,
diabetes and high blood pressure. Larry Tate, Vice
President of Program Development for Fortitude Health
& Wellness, provided Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis
(BIA), a quick and painless method to measure and
track body composition so participants will learn
body mass index (BMI), body hydration status, basal
metabolic rate (calories burned while resting) to
set personal weight goals.
At all community events, participants and their buddies
will receive packets of information and interact with
onsite physicians during “Ask A Doctor”
opportunities. At-risk individuals will be referred
to health care facilities in their community that
care for patients regardless of income. UT Southwestern
Medical Center will serve as the data repository for
the initiative.
The program is not just a one-day event. Following
the kick-off, the American Heart Association will
come back to the recreation center and offer free
health education sessions on nutrition, physical activity,
and disease management. This year round
campaign will be conducted in English and Spanish
and will target African Americans and Latinos/Hispanics
throughout communities in Dallas identified as health
disparity zones. These affected areas are primarily
located in the southern sector of the city, encompassing
22 zip codes.
The Dallas Healthy Heart initiative promotes cardiovascular
disease awareness, prevention, and treatment. Coalition
partners include American Diabetes Association, American
Heart Association, American Stroke Association, City
of Dallas Diabetes Awareness Program, Dallas Concilio,
Dallas Parks & Recreation, Dallas Urban League,
Fortitude Health and Wellness, Health Wise (in the
Elite News), National Minority Health Month Foundation,
Paradigm International, Parkland Health & Hospital
Systems, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and UT Southwestern
Medical Center.
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals is the corporate sponsor of
the campaign.
For more information, please go to www.healthyheartpath.com
or contact Dallas Healthy Heart coordinator Katrina
McGhee Drake at (972) 228-2484.
Dallas Screening Schedule
(Events will take place from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm)
June 4 Grauwyler Recreation Center
June 18 Singing Hills Recreation Center
June 25 JJ Craft Recreation Center
July 30 Beckley-Saner Recreation Center
August 20 Kiest Recreation Center
September 10 Celebrating Life Sister to Sister Fitness
Festival
September 17 Tommie Allen Recreation Center
Partner Screening Events
June Urban League Senior Screening Event at Fireside
June 11 Parkland Men’s Health Conference
August 6 AHA Hispanic Health Festival
To book interviews with the Heroes of Football or
for more information on the campaign, please contact
Cleve Mesidor at (202) 223-7560 or via email at cmesidor@americanvisions.com.
Additional information about the summit is available
at www.nmhmfsummit.org.
National Minority Health Month Foundation is
a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes the building
of coalitions and evidence-based solutions towards
the elimination of health disparities.
