CHARLESTON, WV, May 13, 2024 — As the celebration of their centennial year continues, your American Heart Association is working to find new ways to help reach West Virginians regarding their health and well-being. This has led to an innovative partnership with Link Transportation, who will help bring the “Ride with Heart” program to life in the Kanawha Valley. A special press conference launching this campaign will take place this Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Link Transportation’s facilities (312 21st Street West, Charleston, WV).
“We are so excited to bring the ‘Ride with Heart’ program to life with Link Transportation,” said Holly Mitchell, Community Impact Director for the Association. “Being able to educate passengers on how to spot a stroke, how to perform Hands-Only CPR, and on the importance of knowing their blood pressure can help improve outcomes for these illnesses in the region.”
"At Link Transportation, we are proud to partner with the American Heart Association to raise awareness about stroke prevention and cardiovascular health,” said Jeb Corey, CEO of Link Transportation. “Many of our passengers rely on us for access to critical medical care, and this partnership allows us to provide them with essential knowledge that could save lives. We wanted this to be more than just an information campaign, so we are proud to offer our multipurpose space to provide resources to the community for health screenings and lifesaving training."
“Ride With Heart” is a two-month-long awareness campaign aimed at educating passengers and community members on cardiovascular health, stroke symptoms, and CPR. In May, the program will focus on stroke symptom awareness and prevention, while in June, the campaign will emphasize Hands-Only CPR. As part of the education campaign, two community health clinics will be hosted at Link Transportation’s multi-purpose space located at 312 21st West, Charleston, WV 25312, near the North Charleston Community Center.
On May 29th, Link and the American Heart Association will host a cardiovascular health clinic with medical services provided by WV Health Right’s staff and their mobile clinic. Patients can receive blood pressure and glucose screenings along with follow-up care information. Additional services like hepatitis C screenings and HIV rapid tests will also be available. The clinic will run from 10 am to 1 pm. Then, on June 5th, the two partners will host a Hands-Only CPR training clinic in conjunction with CPR Awareness Week. Resources will be available on-site to help businesses create their own cardiac response plans. Both clinics are free of charge. For transportation to the clinic, please contact Link at ridewithlink.com.
For more information, contact Kevin Pauley, Marketing Communications Director for the American Heart Association, at kevin.pauley@heart.org.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.