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Stride for Health

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Stride for Health
Why One Woman Supports the Stride for Health
Walkers
Become a Virtual Walker
Pledging
Sponsor
Volunteer
Team Competition
Photos from 2009 Walk
All Pages

Put your heart and "sole" into the Stride for Health Sunset Walk on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 5:00 PM at beautiful Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA.

To benefit Hallmark Health’s Cardiac & Endovascular Services.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

5:00 PM - Lake Quannapowitt, Wakefield

Time is precious when you’re suffering from a heart attack or stroke. When every minute counts, you need excellent, advanced care without driving into Boston. That’s why supporting Hallmark Health’s Cardiac and Endovascular Center and services is so important!

This year Hallmark Health hopes to raise over $100,000 to provide CPR training to 10th and 11th grade students in four communities - Wakefield, Melrose, Medford and Stoneham. Based on the American Heart Association “Family and Friends, CPR Anytime” model, the training includes a small limited-use manikin with instructions on core CPR and choke-saving skills. When the students have completed their school-based training, they will be asked to sign a contract to train at least three family members using the kit provided to them. This requirement will offer CPR to a wider audience in the community with the possibility of saving countless numbers of lives. Students will also receive community service hours. The program will be expanded to other communities in the future.

This year, our fundraising site makes it easier to set up a personalized fundraising page. In less than five minutes you can customize your page. For examples click on walk or virtual walk. For information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at 781-979-6116.

Cardiac & Endovascular Center Fact Sheet

Why One Woman Supports the Stride for Health

carolyn cohan

At fifty-three, Carolyn Cohan was the poster child of good health. Because heart disease ran in her family, she was diligent about living a healthy lifestyle. She didn’t smoke or drink. She ate only healthy food, wasn’t overweight, exercised five days a week and had low cholesterol. Her only complaints were feeling a little tired, a little winded and occasional indigestion. Few would imagine that this Melrose native would receive last rites and then live to tell her story.

During a phone conversation with her physician, Carolyn admitted that she was experiencing a burning sensation in her shoulder as well as shortness of breath. She was told to go to the Emergency Room. “I drove from my office in Andover to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital,” says Cohan. “Crazy, but I didn’t think it was serious.”

She passed a battery of tests, but after her stress test, she had a sore throat, something she often got after exercising. “My physician recognized that as a symptom that might require a bypass. I was transferred to MGH and admitted for an angiogram.”

Thirty seconds into the procedure, Carolyn flat-lined on the table. “I remember feeling terrible pain and hearing lots of commotion. I was resuscitated and it was determined I needed a quadruple bypass. The morning of my surgery, I went into cardiac arrest and was given the last rites. Without the bypass I would die. With the surgery there was the same risk.”

With few choices, Carolyn received the surgery, but she didn’t easily bounce back. “Two months after surgery, I was worse than the ninety-year-olds who had the same surgery. I thought – is this what my life will be reduced to?”

Carolyn soon began her rehabilitation at MWH’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Department. “They first built my confidence and then helped me build back my strength,” explains Carolyn. “The staff at Cardiac Rehab knew their stuff and didn’t give me a pass, but at the same time, they were so much fun and made rehab into a positive experience. I can’t say enough about the cardiac care I received from Hallmark Health.”

From receiving last rites to having to fight back from being seriously debilitated, Carolyn is raising pledges for the Stride for Health Walk on that was held on Sunday, June 6^th at Lake Quannapowitt to benefit Hallmark Health’s Cardiac and Endovascular services.

Walkers

How to sign up

Thank you for putting both your heart and “sole” into Stride for Health. Every step you take assists Hallmark Health in providing state-of-the-art care to people in our community who are suffering from common, and in many cases life-threatening, health issues from heart attacks and aneurysms to blood clots and other circulatory problems.

Last year, the combination of sponsor revenue and pledges put us over the top! We encourage you to raise pledges - it is easier than ever to do it on-line. In less than five minutes you create a personal fundraising page and customize it by uploading writing a personal message. You can even upload a photo. After you customize your page, email your message to your family, friends, colleagues and those in your social networking sites, like MySpace and FaceBook. You'll be amazed at how many people will support you with an on-line donation!

As a Stride for Health walker, you demonstrate your commitment to this worthy cause. You also prove that you are a person who clearly ‘walks the walk’ when it comes to getting things done! Sign up on-line to walk and follow the simple instructions to creat a personal fundraising page.

Walker On-line Registration

Printable Walker Registration Form

Virtual Walker and Virtual Competition

Can’t make it on June 6th? Then become a Virtual Walker. Sign up on-line as a virtual walker, raise $100 in pledges and receive a Stride for Health T-shirt!

If you raise more that $100, you’ll be eligible to receive the same prizes and gift certificates offered to walkers. In less than five minutes you can create a personal fundraising page and customize it by writing a personal message or even uploading a photo. After you customize your page, email your message to your family, friends, colleagues and those in your social networking sites, like MySpace and FaceBook.

Virtual walkers can also join or create a virtual team or join a team participating on walk day and be part of a Team Challenge. Team Challenges are easy to create on-line and if your team brings in more pledges than your competitor, you win a Team trophy and other great prizes! Registration fee waived for virtual walkers.

Thank you for helping Hallmark Health provide state-of-the-art Cardiac and Endovascular care, services and education close to home.

How to Sign Up

Pledging to Stride for Health

Your pledge has the power.

Your pledge demonstrates how much you appreciate the effort and dedication of walkers. But most of all, your pledge has the power to perhaps save the life of someone in your community someday.

We are grateful to everyone who fulfills a pledge and remember - your pledge has legs of its own. Even if your walker doesn't make it to the end of the course, your pledge will reach its destination!

How to Raise Pledges

Walker Pledge Letter

Walker Pledge Sheet

Sponsor

To help make Stride for Health a success, we cordially invite your company’s support. Funds raised from last year’s highly visible and important event, helped Hallmark Health raise close to $100,000 to support the development of the Congestive Heart Failure Program at Lawrence Memorial Hospital with the purchase of a stationary bicycle, an ergometer machine, weight scales and other educational equipment and materials. It also assisted us in continuing to provide state-of-the-art services at the Cardiac & Endovascular Center at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital and to offer cardiac and vascular educational and screening programs free to the community. Additionally, Stride for Health highlights the importance of having a state-of-the-art facility in our community and the positive impact it has on the lives of hundreds of people affected by heart and vascular disease.

The following information describes the wonderful opportunities for your company to participate as a sponsor of Stride for Health. Sponsorship has tremendous advertising benefits and offers your company increased visibility. We can also customize the sponsorship benefits to fit your needs.

We hope you will lend your support. For additional information, please contact, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at the Hallmark Health Development Office, 781-979-6116.

Thank you for all that you can do to enhance the quality of life in our community.

Sponsor Reply Form

Sponsorship Opportunities

2010 Sponsors

We wish to thank our sponsors. Without their help, the Stride for Health would not be possible. Please support them and thank them for helping Hallmark Health realize its mission of providing state-of-the-art cardiac and endovascular care close to home!

Trendsetter Sponsor

Jennifer S. Wu, MD

Extra Mile Sponsor

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Volunteer

The success of Stride for Health depends on many different individuals – especially volunteers. Working in registration, T-shirt distribution, staffing the food and beverage tables or as a course marshal, volunteers make things run smoothly and ensure a positive experience for all involved. Plus, your help supports the Cardiac & Endovascular Center and the many cardiac and vascular programs and screenings offered free to the community.

Volunteering is fun and you get a complimentary T-shirt, too. So please consider signing up to volunteer.

How to Volunteer

To volunteer simply fill out the online Stride for Health volunteer registration form, or download the volunteer registration form and send it in. Thank you for helping us make this a successful event. We couldn't do it without the help of volunteers!

Team Competition

We all get by “with a little help from our friends” and that’s especially true when walking the Stride for Health course around Lake Quannapowitt. Creating a team of friends, family and coworkers to walk with you on June 6th makes the event more fun and provides that extra support and encouragement to achieve your goal!

Teams can be as small as two people or as large as you like. If you decide to be a Team Captain, all you have to do is organize your team and decide on a meeting time and place at the walk. Walkers are responsible for their own registration and pledges.

Check out the information below on being a team captain. And if you’d like to join a team or have questions, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at 781-979-6116.

The old adage - competition is good - has never been truer, especially when your team competes in the Stride for Health Walk. Team competition provides encouragement and camaraderie among friends, coworkers and family members, and helps raise additional funds to support cardiac and endovascular programs and services for our community!

Now it is easier than ever to post a challenge to another team:

Sign-up on-line to list your team and the team being challenged.

If you don’t have a challenger, you can invite a challenger or join existing challengers.

The team that raises the most pledges receives a trophy and other great prizes. (Teams must be listed three weeks prior to June 6th in order to be eligible for a trophy).

Teams can also have virtual walkers or can be a totally virtual team.

Check out the teams already posting challenges and feel free to challenge them as well.

Team Captain Fequently Asked Questions

Why are you taking part in the Stride for Health Walk?

It is so important to have a state-of-the-art cardiac and endovascular facility in our community, because time is muscle. Every minute wasted during a heart attack damages your heart. Also, the sooner you are treated during a stroke the better the outcome. Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States and stroke is the third, but the number one cause of disability. By taking part in Stride we are supporting the Cardiac & Endovascular Center and our efforts will contribute to someday saving a life.

How long is the course?

Scenic Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield is a flat 3 mile course. It is the perfect course to bring your children, strollers and even your dog (leashed, please!) We'll even have a "Sole Searching" scavenger hunt. Enjoy an evening stroll around the Lake for a good cause, and after enjoy the music, fun, activities and refreshments.

Become part of a team, can I ask my family and friends to join, too?

Absolutely! The more the merrier. Teams can be as small as two people and as large as the team wants. It’s a great way to meet new people and develop a new sense of camaraderie with co-workers, family and friends because you are all walking for a common cause. For friends and family who can’t participate on June 6th, encourage them to be virtual walkers. They can raise money as part of your team and help cardiac and endovascular programs and services.

What is required of me if I decide to become a team captain?

Each team member is responsible for his/her own entry fee and pledges, so team captains are not responsible for any money from team members. A team captain just needs to sign up team members. A team sign up sheet is on the website at: www.hallmarkhealth.org/strideforhealth. Collect the names, addresses and email addresses of each team member. Pass a copy in at registration. You can also list on the top of the sign up sheet the name of a team you are competing against. It is not necessary to compete, but it does add to the fun! Encourage team members to raise pledges and make sure they know what time the walk starts and decide on a place to meet prior to the walk. Some teams like to create a team name and some have special T-shirts made or like to wear special colors or costumes. This is not necessary.

How do we develop competing teams?

Your team may decide that they want to compete against another hospital department, company or organization. If you wish to challenge another team, contact the Development Office of Hallmark Health at 979-6116 and we can put you in touch or contact a team for you.

What is required of me as a team member?

Each team member pays the entry fee ($10, non-refundable) and collects pledges from friends, family and coworkers. We strongly urge every team member to bring in at least $100 in pledges. Pledge sheets are available on the entry form and on the website at: www.hallmarkhealth.org/strideforhealth. That will bring right into FirstGiving, where you can keep track of your pledges and send messages to your friends and families. Also on the website is helpful tips on how to raise pledges and a letter that can be customized when making a request by mail. Team members are also encouraged to get their friends, family and coworkers involved either by walking, volunteering or being on the walk route and cheering you on. All walkers, volunteers and spectators can take part in the post-walk refreshments and activities.

What happens if it rains or for some reason I collect pledges, but can’t make the walk?

Your pledge has legs of its own. Even if you don't make it to the end of the course, your pledge will reach its destination! Please let anyone who pledges understand that their pledge is a donation and no matter what happens, that pledge/donation will be turned in and used to support the cause. If for some reason you collect your pledges and can’t make it to the walk, or if there is inclement weather you are still asked to turn in your pledge money. It can either be mailed with your pledge sheet to: Fund Development, Hallmark Health, 585 Lebanon Street, Melrose, MA 02176, Attn: Stride for Health or it can be dropped off at the Fund Development office at 24 Porter Street, Melrose, Monday thru Friday during business hours. We cannot stress enough the importance of raising and turning in your pledge money!

I know I can’t make it on June 6th, what other way can I participate?

There are a few ways to participate. Pledge generously to a friend or coworker who is taking part in the walk. If you are not sure who is participating, you can send your pledge to: Fund Development, Hallmark Health, 585 Lebanon Street, Melrose, MA 02176, Attn: Stride for Health or it can be dropped off at the Fund Development office at 24 Porter Street, Melrose, Monday thru Friday during business hours. Another way to participate is to take part in the Virtual Walk. All it requires of you is to raise at least $100 in pledges (no entry fee required) and you will receive a Stride T-shirt and be helping raise needed funds for the cardiac and endovascular services!

Being a Team Captain

Thank you for agreeing to be a Stride for Health Team Captain. Your leadership will assist in making this important event a success! Listed are some helpful tips for being a team captain.

Put your team together early. Either provide them with the pledge sheets and helpful information or direct them to the website at: www.hallmarkhealth.org/strideforhealth.

A team can be as large as you want or as small as two people, but the more people on your team, the more fun you’ll have and the more money you’ll raise for patient care!

Ask each of your team members to recruit one or more people for the team.

Encourage virtual walkers to be part of your team. Virtual walkers raise pledges that increase the amount your team raises.

Encourage your team members to bring in pledges. Drop them an occasional email asking how they are doing. Find out if they’ve followed up with prospects. Cheer them on and give them lots of support.

Create a team challenge. Find another group or department to compete against. Make sure your team members know that the more pledges raised, the better the chances are that your team will win the challenge – and mostly, the more pledges raised, the greater the support for the cardiac & endovascular services.

Feel free to name your team. Dress up in team costumes. Have a team mascot.

Bring a camera to the walk so you and your team can have a group picture to remember the day by and you can send the picture to supporters, too.

Remember to thank your team after the event and let them know how much they raised collectively to help provide cardiac and endovascular services close to home.

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