Heart walk to raise money, awareness

VCU’s professional sorority of women engineers, Zeta Phi Sigma, offers its support for the American Heart Association by participating in Richmond’s Annual Heart Walk.

The heart walk begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Carillon in Byrd Park, 1100 Blanton Ave.

“Heart disease is the number one killer of women so it’s important that women are aware of the risk of heart disease,” said Kiki Venable-Lastovica, president of the sorority and a chemical-engineering student. “I think a lot of women don’t realize it, and they think it mostly is breast cancer, so really it’s to raise awareness.”

Zeta Phi Sigma
American Heart Association
Heart Walk
10 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 29
Carillon, Byrd Park
1100 Blanton Ave.
www.geocities.com/alpha_zps

All 16 sorority members plan to participate in the event by walking the three-mile trek or by raising money for the cause. According to its Web site, the sorority’s team goal is to raise $500. Teams that raise at least $100 receive free Heart Walk T-shirts.

“I know people personally who have been affected by the disease and have overcome (it) – thank God – and (they are glad to) just to be able to go out and raise funds to help support research,” said Priscilla L. Eddings, secretary of the sorority and an electrical-engineering student.

Venable-Lastovica said the heart walk revenue helps fund the national association’s goals and creates an awareness of heart disease. She also said it contributes to finding cures and conducts research on the disease.

Dana Richards, the sorority’s treasurer and a chemical-engineering student, summed up the importance of the walk.

“It’s good to raise money for a good cause, to help people who are suffering from heart disease.”