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‘Community of Lifesavers’ Gathers for Ohio Valley Heart Walk

By Eric Ayres 4 min read

WHEELING - Hundreds of community members brought big smiles and even bigger hearts to Wheeling Park on Thursday night for the annual Ohio Valley Heart Walk.

The American Heart Association’s annual event welcomed participants of all ages and from all walks of life who joined together to raise money for research and to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke.

"The Ohio Valley shows up for this - they love this walk," said Lauren Thomas, development director for the American Heart Association. "It has a deep-rooted meaning. So many people are affected by heart disease and stroke, and I think that it shows in the numbers of people who come out to support this event."

Participants were greeted with a beautiful, picture-perfect early fall weather on Thursday night at Wheeling Park, where the Ohio Valley Heart Walk has taken place for the past several years. Thomas noted that the annual local event has been held in different locations over the years, but Wheeling Park has been home to walk in recent years - and participation has grown.

"Today has been overwhelmingly wonderful," Thomas said. "I think we have roughly 300 people here tonight, which is amazing. I’m very, very grateful for everybody who has raised money and raised awareness."

As of Thursday night, more than $65,500 had been raised from this year’s Ohio Valley event. Those donor dollars help go toward research projects, public education and community programs.

"We have companies, teams, sponsorships, individual walkers who come and fundraise, people who donate online and people who come to the walk and donate cash or a check in person," Thomas said. "People feel a passion for it and want to donate their dollars to such a worthy cause."

Officials at the American Heart Association noted that heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 4 killers of Americans.

Before Thursday night’s walk officially kicked off, some of the top fundraisers were recognized. For 2026, the top Ohio Valley walker was Tina Williams, the top Ohio Valley team was D&D Pacers and the top company or corporate team was WVU Medicine, which claimed the new traveling torch trophy.

Many local organizations and businesses joined individuals in the Heart Walk. There were several survivors among the participants, with those who have survived heart disease wearing red caps and those who have survived stroke wearing white caps. Even young participants who were congenital heart defect survivors were on hand - with those children wearing capes.

There were even dogs wearing designated bandanas.

"It may be shocking, but we do have dogs that have had heart disease and come out to our walks," Thomas explained.

Several participants walk in honor and in memory of a loved one who they lost to heart disease, underscoring how truly grateful the survivors were to be able to participate in the walk and to help in the fight to save more lives.

One of those survivors was the 2026 Ohio Valley Heart Walk chairwoman - Lori Bertus-Whaley, quality improvement coordinator with Peak Health. Bertus-Whaley had been a participant in the Heart Walk since 2002. Her grandparents had survived heart disease, and she became active in the event and the organization, serving on committees.

On Sept. 12, 2023, she found herself experiencing those symptoms that she learned about through the many educational and community awareness programs she had become involved in promoting. She had suffered a heart attack. However, she was able to quickly seek help, and ultimately, there was no permanent damage to her heart.

Kicking off Thursday’s walk, Bertus-Whaley was invited to come beat a bass drum like a heartbeat while her story was told. With the drum, she led the crowd in clapping in rhythm to the heartbeat, symbolizing one that could have been lost but instead continues to pound strongly.

The walk itself went all around Wheeling Park, past the White Palace and the pool, and down around the lake for a route that was just short of a mile in length. Survivors were invited to stop by and beat the drum at the end of their walk in celebration.

Officials said the Ohio Valley Heart Walk and those who support it are truly helping to "build a community of lifesavers."

"It’s just a great way for the community to come together," Thomas said.

For more information about the Ohio Valley Heart Walk, to donate or to learn more about the efforts of the American Heart Association, visit www.heart.org or www.stroke.org.

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