Washburn students on their way to becoming 'Heart Heroes'
By Cheryl McCormack
Editor
Heart disease is the number one killer of all Americans, and more people die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined.
Associated with matters of the heart, the American Heart Association (AHA) does not want to be at the top of that list. Their motto is to "build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke."
Summing it up in easy-to-understand terms, Mary Reiser, youth market director for the AHA, recently told Washburn students, "Our mission is to save lives."
She explained that through the organization’s "Jump Rope for Heart" campaign, they are working to find ways to fix hearts that need help.
During the Jan. 26 AHA lyceum, physical education (PE) instructor Deb Torkelson noted that in the Washburn school alone, three individuals have recently been affected by heart disease – Brandi Holznagel, Faith Wasson and Gary Doepke (wife Donna works at the school).
Reiser said, "These individuals probably wouldn’t be doing what they are now without the help of the American Heart Association."
