WHEELING, W.Va., Sept. 21, 2026 – As part of a fall tradition, your American Heart Association is excited to join with local businesses and community teams for the return of the Ohio Valley Heart Walk, happening this Thursday, Sept. 24, at Wheeling Park. Registration opens at 5:30 p.m., with the walk starting at 6 p.m. Funds raised from the event will help fight the No. 1 and No. 4 killers of Americans – heart disease and stroke. This year’s walk chair is Lori Bertus-Whaley, quality improvement coordinator with Peak Health. WTRF 7 News’ Steve Moore and Annalise Murphy will co-emcee the event.
“We are so excited to see the Ohio Valley community once again join together in this fight, as so many of us have been impacted by heart disease and stroke,” said Lauren Thomas, development director for the American Heart Association. “We can’t wait to see all the smiling faces of our community teams, volunteers, sponsors and, of course, our survivors.”
The evening will have many engaging experiences to offer attendees, including local survivor recognition, music from DJ Keith Shreve and the new Wellness Area.
Area sponsors include WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, The Health Plan, Peak Health, WesBanco, Highmark West Virginia, and Expand Energy Corporation. WTRF 7 News, iHeart Wheeling and DJ Keith Shreve are the media supporters of the event.
“We can’t say thanks enough to our sponsors and community partners,” added Thomas. “They are helping make this year’s Heart Walk a success, and without them, our mission to save lives couldn’t happen.”
Thomas reminds attendees to look for survivors wearing their special Red Caps (heart survivors) and White Caps (stroke survivors). “If you want to know why you help, just look at our Red Cap and White Cap survivors,” she said. “They are all the motivation you need.”
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
Kevin Pauley: kevin.pauley@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
