Heart Walk Returns to Cranberry

After a seven-year hiatus, the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk will return to Cranberry Township on Saturday.

Barbara Roth, division director for the Heart Association in Butler, Beaver and Armstrong counties, said there typically is one walk per county, but because of Cranberry residents' high demands and the expectations from the nonprofit Cranberry Township Community Chest, she said a second walk in Cranberry was added for Butler County.

“We got a lot of requests from the community,” she said.

Registration for Saturday's walk in Cranberry will begin at 9 a.m. at the Westinghouse Electric Company headquarters in the Cranberry Woods office park. The walk begin at 10 a.m.

A second walk will be Oct. 8 at the Butler County Community College in Butler.

The spokesperson for both events will be 7-year-old Luke Ball, who was born with a congenital heart defect. When Luke was 2, he moved with his family from Oregon to Cranberry so he could receive treatment at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Roth said. In December he received a heart transplant.

“We are just blessed to have someone like the Ball family who are willing to share their story and bring that awareness to the community,” Roth said.

Roth said John Ball, Luke’s dad, works at Westinghouse, one of the main sponsors of the Cranberry event. Other sponsors include , MSA, and other local businesses.

Roth said she expects about 700 people to attend Saturday’s 3.2-mile walk around Westinghouse headquarters. A shorter walk will be available, and there will be games, prizes and other activities at the event. Dogs are welcome.

Roth said the Cranberry walk already has surpassed its goal of raising $110,000 for heart research and programs. To donate, or to register for the walk, visit the Cranberry Heart Walk website. Participants also may register on the day of the event.

If Saturday’s event proves successful, Roth said the association likely would continue to hold a heart walk in Cranberry. 

“It’s really helping to raise awareness here in this community,” she said. “Heart disease is the No. 1 killer for men and the No. 1 killer for women. Raising awareness and making lifestyle changes are very important.”