Six Central Valley staff joined nearly 2,000 people in the America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk at Utica University on Saturday, March 2nd. Entered at Team Kiddos, four Thunder ran the 18-mile run and two came out for the 3 mile walk/run. Team Kiddos raised $536.53 in donations from the four schools (50% from Jarvis, 25% from Barringer, and 25% from CVA/Fisher).
It was not an ideal day for a run. Temperatures hovered around 40 degrees under a light drizzle and easterly winds at 7 mph. Despite the weather, Aaron Carey, Heather Rose, Danielle Bliss, Kate Sadekowski, Leisa Murphy, and Deb Rachon were up for the challenge.
Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of the Utica event and the first return to the university since the pandemic. Participants raised more than $500,000 for the American Heart Association's efforts to end heart disease and stroke. Heart disease in the #1 cause of death in the United States and stroke is the #5 cause.