Team Seminole Attends AHA Heart Walk

By Felix DoBosz

DAVIE, FL — On a sunny March 5 morning, over 5,000 people showed up to the annual American Heart Association’s (AHA) Broward County Heart Walk to walk the 2.5 mile course and promote heart health. The large crowd converged on Nova Southeastern University’s Davie Campus for what was to be more than just an event–it was a celebration of healthy living.

The American Heart Walk is a national event that takes place in over 600 cities across America on the same day. It aims to bring attention to cardiovascular disease, which the AHA says is still the number one killer of Americans. According to the AHA, various heart diseases claim the lives of nearly 39 percent of all American deaths annually.

Among the 5,000 participants, a small minority came from Team Seminole. Team member Edna McDuffie from Big Cypress estimated 18 people attended on behalf of the Seminole Tribe.

“This was our first year here with the Hard Rock, we wanted to participate last year but I found out about it a little bit too late,” McDuffie, Community Outreach Liaison with the Seminole Health department, said. “We wanted to participate because we have heart problems in our tribe too. That’s the reason we want to help raise funds for the heart association.”

In addition to McDuffie, Tribal Health Director Connie Whidden, Allied Health Manager Suzanne Davis, Helene Buster also attended the Broward County Heart Walk .

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino provided the T-shirts for Team Seminole, but sponsorship was through the Tribe and President Moses Osceola’s Office this year, McDuffie said.

In addition to the Hard Rock, many other corporations sponsored teams that had their own tents setup with free T-shirts and water for thirsty walkers. A large percentage of the monies raised stay right in South Florida, going to fund cardiovascular research at to the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center’s Miami Heart Institute.

Team Seminole will also participate in the March of Dimes Walk America walk in Okeechobee, Fla. on March 19.