Metro Chicago Heart Walks to step off this weekend

The American Heart Association will host the 2014 Metro Chicago Heart Walks this month to support the fight against heart disease and stroke, which kills one in three women.

More than 25,000 walkers will unite to help raise $2.7 million for the American Heart Association's research, educational and awareness programs in Chicago and across the country.

The noncompetitive walks feature 1- and 3-mile routes and a free family-friendly health festival that includes free health screenings, the world's most realistic walk-through interactive inflatable brain, the Chicago Bulls' IncrediBulls and Luvabulls, and giveaways.

The Heart Walks feature teams of heart disease and stroke survivors, employees from local companies and people interested in fighting heart disease and stroke, America's No. 1 and No. 4 killers.

The two co-chairs of the 2014 Heart Walk will be Kelly Jo Golson, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Advocate Health Care, and Opella Ernest, vice president and chief medical officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois.

The Chicago Heart Walk will be held on Friday, Sept. 26, in the south lot at Soldier Field from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Oak Brook Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Oak Brook Sports Core from 8 to 11 a.m. The Lake Forest Heart Walk will be on Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Grainger Campus from 8 to 11 a.m.

For more information and to support the Heart Walks, visit metrochicagoheartwalk.org.

The Heart Walks are nationally sponsored by Subway Restaurants. The local sponsor of the Metro Chicago Heart Walk is Meijer. The local signature sponsors are Advocate Health Care, Aquafina, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.