Kaicie Boeglin
News Editor
Rhode Island College is up against Providence College for the American Heart Association (AHA) 2024 College Cup. This year is the American Heart Association centennial. In celebrating 100 years the RI chapter of the AHA will be hosting the Southern New England Heart Walk on the RIC campus, but has posed a friendly competition between both state schools. The college who raises the most funds and produces the most participation wins this year's College Cup. Despite being held at RIC, those at PC are currently winning the battle.
Part of the competition is based on fundraising whereas the other is based on walker participation. The walk will take place at RIC Saturday June 8; however, donations will be accepted through June 30. The winner of the College Cup will be announced from the stage the day of the walk and the winning school will be presented a trophy. This year's walk will begin on the RIC Quad and consist of two laps around the campus.
The walk will have on-site registration and check-in starting at 9:00 a.m. and will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. Pre-registration is up now and individuals from both Providence College and Rhode Island College can sign up as individuals, create or join a team or simply donate. The day of the walk will feature sponsors, hundreds of walkers, a survivor lane and a bark park. The event is open to all and is a family and dog friendly event.
Each College has a company page on the AHA Heart Walk website. On each college page is where organizations can create or join a team. Fraternities, sororities, departments, clubs and all organizations from each college are encouraged to participate. Gretta Jacobs, the AHA representative in charge of the walk and fellow RIC alumni, spoke with The Anchor on how to volunteer, why creating a team can make an impact and how the donations raised will be used to support legislation, boost research and fund CPR training.
“Heart disease, heart attack, blood pressure and stroke are things that touch all humans on some level” Jacobs said. Every individual knows someone attached to one of the aforementioned killers above. The Heart Walk is an event to raise awareness in those of all ages and the funds donated are to preserve the cause. Jacobs added, “most individuals do not think about these things until they are older and sitting in front of a doctor.”
The AHA aims to promote heart health awareness and break the stigma around CPR fear. Walkers who register under each college help promote the cause and enhance each team's chance of winning the college cup. Whereas donations will help support research and training, participation will push the need for legislation and build awareness around cardiac health, treatment and preservation. Before students, faculty, friends and family kiss the campus goodbye for the summer, make sure to pop out for one of Rhode Island's biggest events of the year.