Maze the dog and 2-year old Xyla Kiefer participate in the Pup Parade Thursday during the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk held at City Park. The pair won top prize for “best puppy dog eyes.” (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — About 100 participants signed up for the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk Thursday at City Park as the organization celebrates its 100th anniversary.

“This is our 100th year anniversary, and we’ve been celebrating at each one of our events, just recognizing that we’ve been around for 100 years,” Amanda Sosebee, development director for the American Heart Association, said.

The event, which is one of the AHA’s biggest fundraisers, celebrates heart disease survivors and raises awareness about heart health. Sosebee emphasized the importance of the Heart Walk in encouraging people to live an active lifestyle and know their health numbers, as heart disease and stroke can affect anyone.

“Don’t think it can’t happen to you, because heart disease and stroke, they don’t discriminate,” she said.

Local resident Candance Jones shared her experience with heart disease, underscoring the critical importance of paying attention to one’s body and symptoms. She said despite living an active lifestyle, she was unaware that she had significant heart issues until a series of medical tests revealed a 99.9% blockage in her left anterior descending artery, also known as the “widowmaker.”

Participants begin their walk Thursday at the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk held at City Park. About 100 participants signed up for the walk to help raise funds and awareness for heart disease. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“I was pretty shocked to find this out,” Jones said. “I thought, ‘This can’t be so, because I live a very active lifestyle.'”

She said her symptoms, which included tightness during exercise, were initially dismissed by a nurse practitioner who commented on her “perfect figure.” She said it wasn’t until she insisted on further testing that the severity of her condition was uncovered.

She said the cardiac catheterization procedure revealed the alarming blockage, prompting immediate medical intervention. She said her experience highlights the need for greater awareness of how heart disease can present differently in men and women.

Unlike the classic symptoms of chest pain or shortness of breath, she said her symptoms were more subtle, underscoring the importance of listening to one’s body and advocating for proper medical care.

“You know, listen to your body, think about what’s going on, and talk to your physicians and your care providers about how you’re feeling,” Jones advised. “Things aren’t always as they seem.”

Baylor Kupfner accepts a medal for his team placing in the top three teams for donations collected Thursday during the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk held at City Park. Team Baylor collected $1,005 to go towards research to improve heart treatment and education. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Lindsay Kupfner, mother of a congenital heart defect survivor, was the 2024 Walk Chair and expressed gratitude for the support from those in attendance. She said the funds raised are crucial for life-saving research, community education, and helping families affected by heart disease and stroke.

“So as a community, even a small one like the MOV, it’s important to have these walks and these events so that way we can not only raise awareness, but also raise these funds to continue this fight that affects populations across the board, from the elderly to the newborns,” Kupfner said.

It was announced around $32,000 was raised at this year’s event.

Cardiologist Dr. David Gnegy was announced as the 2025 Walk Chair and he thanked those who continue to work and help those affected by heart disease.

“I’d like to give a shout out to all the caregivers out there, family members, nurses, techs, aides, physicians that help provide care to our local community,” Gnegy said.

Lindsay Kupfner, mother of a congenital heart defect survivor, was the 2024 Walk Chair for the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk held Thursday at City Park. Kupfner told the crowd that by being a part of the walk, they were helping support life saving research, local community education and also celebrating all of the heart and stroke survivors in attendance. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

For more information about the Heart Walk, heart health and ways to be active in the fight against heart disease, visit the American Heart Association website at www.heart.org.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

The American Heart Association mascot greets participants as they arrive at City Park Thursday for the annual Heart Walk. Around $32,000 was raised to help support research to improve heart treatment and education. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)