More than 5,000 people walked in support of the American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission on May 9 at the 2015 Omaha-Council Bluffs Heart Walk (omahaheartwalk.kintera.org) presented by Physicians Mutual with media sponsors KMTV Action 3 News and Star 104.5. The event has raised $567,033 this year to date for the American Heart Association, an organization that invested $2.68 million in 15 new and continuing studies last year in Nebraska.
Among the top fundraisers for the event: Heart Walk chair Rob Reed of Physicians Mutual, who was named Top Individual Fundraiser with over $60,000 raised to date; CHI Health, which was named Top Fundraising Health System with over $37,000 raised to date; and Callum’s Crusaders – the team of Heart Child Callum Pieters, which was named the Top Community Team with over $5,400 raised to date.
Physicians Mutual, the presenting sponsor of the 2015 Omaha-Council Bluffs Heart Walk, also claimed two awards. First, the company was named the top newcomer, given to a company that has not participated in the Heart Walk previously. The company also won the Top Fundraising Award, narrowly defeating reigning champion Union Pacific. Physicians Mutual raised nearly $93,000 to date – in addition to their sponsorship – while Union Pacific raised just under $92,000.
The event also received support from sponsors Aetna, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Nebraska, CenturyLink, CHI Health, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Creighton University, McGrath North, Nebraska Methodist College, Nebraska Methodist Health System, MCL Construction, Nebraska Medicine, Nebraska Pork Producers, Oriental Trading Company, Purina PetCare, Union Pacific Railroad, Valmont, Walgreens and Woodmen of the World.
Craig Nigrelli, lead anchor with Action 3 News, emceed the Heart Walk Opening Ceremony while Chris Chapman of Star 104.5 emceed the Children’s Mile Opening Ceremony.
For more information on the Heart Walk visit omahaheartwalk.kintera.org.