Mon General named "My Heart My Life" champion for the American Heart Association

                Mon General Hospital and the American Heart Association have formed a new alliance in the battle against West Virginia's No. 1 killer - heart disease.

                On Wednesday, Aug. 22, it was announced that Mon General Hospital had become West Virginia’s first “My Heart My Life” champion for the American Heart Association, helping to lead the fight against heart disease. The partnership will include various outreach activities, including the annual Heart Walk as well as special events all year long.

                 The "My Heart My Life" campaign is designed to help people find simple, effective ways to improve their cardiac health. Mon General is the first program sponsor in West Virginia and will sponsor the Greater Morgantown Heart Walk on Oct. 27 at Mylan Park. Mon Health System President and CEO Darryl Duncan and Mon General Cardiologist John McKnight, MD, are the community chairpersons for the Heart Walk.

                “We’ve made a long term commitment to the American Heart Association and we want to be the leader in the community when it comes to heart care,” Duncan said. “We agree 100 percent with the Heart Association’s goal - over the next 10 years, we want to reduce deaths by heart disease by 20 percent, and we want to improve the healthy population by 20 percent.

                “Mon General is already the best hospital for treating the outcomes of people living a bad lifestyle,” he said. “Now we want to invest in helping them live a better lifestyle.”

                As a “My Heart My Life” sponsor, Mon General will help educate and encourage the public by showing the benefits of a healthy diet and regular exercise, as well as providing exposure to these lifestyles though the Health Walk, National Eating Healthy Day and National Walking Day.

                “The Heart Walk accomplishes two things,” Duncan said. “It raises money to help fight heart disease and increase awareness. But, we also want to encourage people to change their habits and to start walking. If we can do that, we can make a huge difference in the lives of those right here in Morgantown.”

                “I’m really exciting about the partnership we have with Mon General,” said Helene Moncman, Division Director with the American Heart Association. “Not just to raise funds for the Health Association and improving research statewide, but for the awareness goal, working with people and helping them to understand how they can impact their heart health.”

                Mon General kicked off its Heart Walk by encouraging employees and community members to form teams. The first team captain meeting was held following the partnership announcement.

                “What really makes this Heart Walk important is the fact that we raise money for research that stays right here in our area,” said Nancy Ord, RN, Emergency Department Director and Mon General Heart Walk coordinator. “It also helps us educate patients.

                To learn more about the Heart Walk or to register a team, visit http://www.heart.org/morgantownwalk.