Laredo Community College President Dr. Ramon H. Dovalina knows well that cardiovascular disease affects Laredoans of all ages. He is doing his part to educate the community about heart disease prevention and the need for additional research to combat this disease.
Dovalina has seen the impact of CVD close to home. The baby daughter of a close friend endured heart surgery twice before age one. His own father, at age 91, was recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
“We constantly hear how people are affected by heart attacks, strokes and other heart diseases. But, when it hits close to home, it takes on a new meaning,” explained Dovalina.
When the American Heart Association approached Dovalina to serve as the chairman of the group’s annual Heart Walk, his father was in the hospital battling the heart ailment. He quickly accepted the challenge and agreed to host the annual walk on the college’s downtown campus.
The annual Heart Walk is expected to attract hundreds of community and health-minded Laredoans to support this worthy cause. The walk is scheduled for Saturday, October 9, at the LCC campus, West End Washington Street. Registration is at 8 a.m. in front of the LCC Yeary Library; the non-competitive 3-mile walk starts at 9 a.m.
“As Laredo’s hometown college, LCC and its faculty, staff and student body are committed to helping community. Our college family is well known for supporting worthy causes such as the March of Dimes, United Way, the Boys and Girls Club, and many other endeavors dedicated to the advancement of education and improving the quality of life in our community,” Dovalina noted.
Dovalina invites schools, businesses and families to join the fight against heart disease and stroke by participating in the Heart Walk. For Dovalina, the opportunity to be part of this special benefit is personal. He hopes others, whose lives have been affected by CVD and stroke, will accept also the challenge.
“We need to remind ourselves, our family and friends how vulnerable everyone is to cardiovascular diseases. It can affect anyone, no matter how old they are,” emphasized Dovalina.
He added that the Heart Walk will also feature a Health Fair in the Kazen College Center. Local hospitals will provide various types of health check-ups to participants.
“In addition to raising funds for a worthy cause, the Heart Walk can serve as an opportunity for individuals to launch a more rigorous cardiovascular activity to improve health and reduce their risk of acquiring the disease,” said Dovalina. “Walkers, donors and volunteers are welcome to be part of this special event.”
The American Heart Association is the largest voluntary health organization fighting heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in local communities throughout America. These diseases devastate millions of people of all ages and claim nearly 950,000 lives a year. CVD is recognized as America’s No. 1 killer. Stroke is the No. 3 killer in the U.S.
Organizations and individuals who desire to be part of American Heart Walk in Laredo may contact Kecia Batsell at the AHA Rio-Grande Valley office toll-free at 888-433-7714 or by email at Kecia.Batsell@heart.org. Persons may also contact the LCC Marketing and Public Information office at 721-5140 or publicinfo@laredo.edu.
Laredo Community College President Dr. Ramon Dovalina stands next to his father, Fernando Dovalina, who wears a red cap, the symbol for survivors of heart attack or stroke. Dr. Dovalina will serve as this year’s chairman of the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, scheduled for Oct. 9 at LCC.
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West End Washington St.
Laredo, TX 78040-4395
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