November 9, 2019
Media Contacts
Jen Childress (515) 422-4498, jen.childress@nationalforum.org
Eleven Ohio mayors are being recognized at The Ohio State vs. Maryland football game today for their commitment to boosting their cities’ heart health. National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention executive director John M. Clymer joined vice president for health promotion, university chief wellness officer and College of Nursing dean (and National Forum board member) Bernadette Melnyk, PhD; Ohio Mayors Alliance executive director Keary McCarthy; and Ohio mayors on the field with support from Ohio State University President Dr. Michael V. Drake during the game to raise awareness about ways that people can save their own lives and prevent the devastating effects of heart disease and stroke. The football game featured a heart-health theme, including fan-friendly messages on how Ohioans can improve their well-being.
Why the focus on heart health? Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack. Heart disease is the nation’s #1 cause of death, and Ohio has the 12th-highest rate of deaths from heart disease.
“To prevent cardiovascular disease takes people and communities working together,” said Clymer. “Sitting less and moving more is a key to better health, and it is great to have mayors across Ohio leading the way, showing that even someone with a super busy schedule can fit more walking into their daily routine.”
Through the Move with the MayorTM Step It Up! Challenge, mayors across Ohio participated in a friendly Buckeye state challenge (as part of a nationwide initiative) to reduce heart disease and stroke. Mayors encouraged residents to get up and get moving. In addition to hosting walks and other physical activity events, mayors also completed a Success Roadmap inspired by the U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities. The Success Roadmap helps cities identify and strengthen programs and policies to improve health and encourage people to walk and live healthy, active lifestyles.
Ohio cities – all members of the Ohio Mayors Alliance – participating in the Step It Up! Challenge included: Akron, Beavercreek, Columbus, Cuyahoga Falls, Dayton, Elyria, Findlay, Grove City, Lancaster, Toledo and Youngstown.
“We are so grateful that Ohio mayors and the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention have joined with us to battle and reverse the devastating effects of heart disease in our state,” said Melnyk. “Research shows that 80% of chronic disease, including those that affect your heart, are preventable with a few healthy lifestyle behaviors that include regular physical activity, healthy eating, stress reduction and not smoking. We value this partnership to raise awareness and help people across Buckeye Nation and our state to make healthy choices.”
“We’re thrilled that mayors across Ohio are coming together to raise awareness around heart disease and stroke prevention,” said McCarthy. “We hope our mayors keep their Move with the Mayor programs going and continue to be advocates for healthier, active lifestyles.”
More information on heart disease and stroke prevention are available at go.osu.edu/o-heart-i-o.
ABOUT MOVE WITH THE MAYOR™
Move with the Mayor (MTWM) is an initiative developed by the National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, an independent non-profit, 501(c) (3), voluntary health organization. Participating mayors encourage their citizens to take literal steps to improve their health by walking since it is one of the easiest ways to lower one’s chances of heart disease and its risk factors, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The MWTM Step it Up Challenge partners included The Ohio State University College of Nursing and the Ohio Mayors Alliance. To learn more, visit bit.do/MoveWithTheMayor, go.osu.edu/o-heart-i-o & ohiomayorsalliance.org.
