Registration is open for the 2020 Heart Walk
Updated Sept. 10, 2020
Walkers will receive a free UTSW face mask. Face masks are limited to one per participant, while supplies last. Vouchers and instructions on how to obtain your face mask will be emailed to participants after the walk.
NEW VIDEO: Since last week's video invite to the Heart Walk and UTSW Steps Challenge, we caught a few more of your colleagues and UTSW leaders on their walks. Find out why walking on Saturday, Sept. 12, is important to them.
Appearing in the video are: Thelma Morgan, February 2020 Step Challenge winner; Dr. Mark Drazner, Clinical Chief of Cardiology; Dr. Shawna Nesbitt, Associate Dean, Student Diversity and Inclusion; Richard Ferrara, Assistant Director, Clinical Operations; and Dr. John Warner, Executive Vice President for Health System Affairs.
Updated Sept. 1, 2020
Annual Steps Challenge moves to Heart Walk day
Typically, toward the end of February, the UT Southwestern community steps it up for an annual Steps Challenge as part of American Heart Month. The idea is for all employees and faculty to walk (and collectively track) their steps all day. So why are we talking about this in September?
Because this year the Steps Challenge is jogging on over to September 12 to align with another fun annual event – the Dallas Heart Walk. Due to the pandemic, the American Heart Association is turning the 2020 Dallas Heart Walk into a “Digital Experience.”
Our “new normal” has brought major shifts in our lives, both at home and work. That means that some of us don’t get up and move as much as we should. So the thought this year, when so much else has changed, is why not marry the Steps Challenge with the Heart Walk? It’s a great way for us all to not only get moving but also connect with the community.
In years past, many of you logged thousands of steps by strolling the Bass Center atrium, hospital, or clinics, walking to see the newest members of the duck pond, or racing to the food trucks. For this Steps Challenge, log steps wherever you are! Here’s how:
- Join the UTSW Dallas Heart Walk team. Participate in Heart Walk activities below, which include sharing your experience on social media, plus a photo contest.
- Log your steps via this form by midnight, Sept. 12.
Additional event details can be found on the AHA 2020 Dallas Heart Walk Facebook page or on the Heart Walk website.
Step it up, together
Some of your colleagues want you to lace up with them. Check out this quick video featuring Chief Nurse Executive Susan Hernandez and Dr. Amit Khera, Director of UTSW's Preventive Cardiology Program.
Updated Aug. 24, 2020
Share your experience on social media using #dallasheartwalk and #utswheart in one of your favorite UTSW T-shirts. You could win a prize!
Eligible photos must feature people wearing masks and social distancing. Photo contest categories include:
- Awesome UTSW Team Spirit
- Cutest Kid Pic of the Day
- I Love to Walk With My Pet
- Most Creative Walking Pic of the Day
You may also Email your photos by noon, Sept. 15.
Be sure to tune in to WFAA Channel 8 at 9:30 a.m. for the formal Heart Walk kickoff.
Registration for the 2020 Dallas Heart Walk is now open.
The American Heart Association (AHA) represents a population of people at significant risk for devastating outcomes if they contract COVID-19. This year’s walk will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, virtually wherever you are. We know you'll miss the sights and sounds of strolling around downtown, but let's be safe! Join UT Southwestern in supporting the AHA’s mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.
Lace up your sneakers and walk one to three miles in the comfort of your home or anywhere in your community. Share your experience with the AHA on Instagram, using #dallasheartwalk, and visit the Dallas AHA Facebook page to see the event activities for the day. You might be featured on one of their social media pages, so smile big!
We may not be able to gather physically, but we want to continue having a strong presence at the Walk. Help UTSW secure the highest number of walkers this year. Because of UTSW’s continued support and leadership, last year we recruited more than 5,080 registered walkers consisting of employees, friends, and family members. This year our goal is 5,200 walkers.
The Heart Walk started in Dallas in 1994 and remains the largest AHA walk in the country. The event raises money to assist heart disease and stroke patients, fund research at UTSW and at other leading research centers, and promote wellness initiatives. It also offers a way for loved ones to honor those who have succumbed to those diseases. The majority of the funds raised during the Dallas Heart Walk stay in North Texas.