The Texas Heart Institute and Fit Houston Partner to Launch a New Wellness Campaign, #WALK30
Aligned programs and resources create access to improved cardiovascular health for all Houstonians.
Houston, Dec. 1, 2022 –The Texas Heart Institute (THI) and Fit Houston are pleased to announce they have entered a partnership to promote #WALK30, a health campaign that combines Texas Heart Institute’s industry-leading research, thought leadership, education, and patient care with Fit Houston’s strategy-led delivery of community wellness movements built on cultural empathy.
With lifestyle and activity levels playing a critical role in health outcomes, #WALK30 brings accessible, community-based solutions to deliver health transformations in Houston’s neighborhoods and workplaces. “The modifiable risks for cardiovascular disease are well-established. A focused initiative on exercise is a vital component of overall cardiovascular health for our community,” according to longtime physical activity advocate Dr. Joseph G. Rogers, President, and CEO of The Texas Heart Institute.
“There is work to be done and improving fitness is critical to our success. As we relaunch and expand our Houston HeartReach community-wide outreach programs post-COVID, Fit Houston is a natural and perfect community partner,” adds Dr. Stephanie Coulter, Assistant Medical Director of The Texas Heart Institute and Director of the Center for Women’s Heart & Vascular Health at The Texas Heart Institute.
“Regular physical activity reduces cardiovascular risk, improves mental health, and reduces cancer risk. Fit Houston is laser-focused on facilitating free physical activity that is available in every community and is done through a positive wellness movement with cultural empathy,” said Fit Houston Founder and Executive Director Lharissa Jacobs.
A Community-Based Movement Drives Transformation
The #WALK30 campaign kicks off January 2023 and creates a pathway for CEOs, organizational leaders, families, and individuals to “Take the Healthy Pledge” and inspire others to walk for 30 minutes each day, wherever they are, and then share walking activity and its impacts on personalized social media posts.
The inception of this campaign stemmed from the Fit Houston team’s successful Equity Pitch to prominent Business and Civic leaders who participated in the inaugural cohort of the Houston 2036 Taskforce on Equity. The Houston 2036 Taskforce on Equity is a citywide initiative that brings leaders together to create and act upon a powerful vision of social justice for Houston’s future. The Houston 2036 Taskforce on Equity harnessed the collective power of the American Leadership Forum, Dialogue Houston, University of St. Thomas, University of Houston Downtown, Holocaust Museum Houston, and other major institutions to launch the formation of Fit Houston. Fit Houston identified the one thing that could improve daily life for communities, stave off chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, and improve mental well-being for Houstonians of all ages and in all communities—Physical Activity—from which Fit Houston and the #WALK30 campaign has grown.
Adds Keri Sprung, THI Vice President for Communications & Education and Fit Houston Advisor, “We are willing to take bold action, to realize our vision to deliver the future of cardiovascular health with partners like Fit Houston. The Fit Houston #WALK30 initiative underscores our commitment to reshaping health and wellness for our communities.”
About Fit Houston
Launched out of the Houston 2036 Task Force on Equity, Fit Houston envisions a city where every community is active, vibrant, and energetic. Fit Houston’s mission is to inspire hope and enhance the vitality of our bodies, minds, and communities through movement. Our core objective is to promote health equity and support active, healthy lifestyles. We do this by creating access to free outdoor spaces and programs for all Houstonians.
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About The Texas Heart Institute
The Texas Heart Institute is an independent, nonprofit organization that is improving cardiovascular health through trailblazing research, thought leadership, education, and patient care. Located within the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, and founded in 1962 by renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley, The Texas Heart Institute performed the first successful heart transplant and total artificial heart implant in the United States. Since then, our physicians and surgeons remain recognized as worldwide leaders in the diagnosis and treatment of even the most complex cardiovascular conditions. Research programs at The Texas Heart Institute continue to push the boundaries of cardiovascular science by translating laboratory discovery to patient care. The Texas Heart Institute has been ranked among the top cardiovascular centers in the United States by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years. www.texasheart.org @texasheartinstitute