Dubuque Heart Walk Raises Money and Helps Save Lives

Rain didn't deter hundreds of motivated individuals who showed up willing to donate, walk, and just be there to support the American Heart Association's 2023 Dubuque Heart Walk.

The event took place on Saturday, May 6th at the Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens on the west end of town. The Heart Walk has been a staple in Dubuque for nearly 30 years, and helps raise money to fund research towards improving heart health.

I had the privilege of co-emceeing the opening ceremony alongside KWWL-TV7's very own Ron Steele, a survivor of a quadruple bypass open heart surgery six years ago. Ron proudly wore his red "SURVIVOR" ball-cap, and for him, the event takes on personal significance. Like he has been on TV for so many decades, he's a consummate professional; a true joy to work alongside.

During the opening ceremony, both Ron and I acknowledged Cam Ludovissy, a four-year-old who was diagnosed with a major heart defect that required open heart surgery. Cam was just 21-days-old when he had the surgery. On Saturday, Cam was happy and playful as he served as this year's ambassador for the event.

Leading up to the event, I had the pleasure of getting to know Glenn Hasken, Chief Operating Officer of Molo Companies in Dubuque. This is the second year Hasken has served as the Chairman of the Dubuque Heart Walk, and it's also the second consecutive year the event has hit a new milestone in funds raised. Hasken came into the studio last week to talk about why this event was so close and personal to him:

I lost my parents to heart disease. No one wants to be orphaned as a child or as an adult, so this is very personal to me. There are many people in this world, especially in this community, who have been touched by heart disease in a negative way [....] [last year] I was amazed by the enthusiasm and high spirit that everyone had, and in some cases, they are celebrating a lost loved one.

Those same high spirits were on full display this past weekend, where hundreds stopped by various booths such as Molo's to spin a wheel and win a prize, learn life-saving measures like CPR, and discover all the services for people right here in the Dubuque community.

Read more about how sleep can affect your heart health here.