VANCOUVER – On Sunday, September 25, the 2011 Ismaili Walk will celebrate its 20th anniversary and take place at Lumbermen’s Arch in Stanley Park at 11:00 a.m. This year’s Walk, in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, will help increase awareness of the risks of heart disease and stroke, and raise funds for the Foundation’s “Take the Pressure Down” campaign and for the HeartSmart Kids™ healthy lifestyle program
Last year, the Ismaili Walk raised over $300,000, and over $3.2M since inception.
“Our partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation is one which the Ismaili Muslim community is very proud of,” said Samira Alibhai, President of the Ismaili Council for British Columbia. “Partnerships such as these enable the Ismaili community to give back to fellow British Columbians and help create healthy communities.”
“We are thrilled to be working with the Ismaili Muslim community of British Columbia, in what has already been a fulfilling partnership,” said Diego Marchese, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, BC & Yukon. “We thank the Ismaili community for the support of our organization, and for their continued dedication to the betterment of our community over the past 20 years through the Walk.”
“The Province is a proud supporter of this year’s Ismaili Walk, which thanks to the continued dedication of the Ismaili community is helping to raise awareness of risk factors that affect the health of many British Columbians.” said Health Minister Michael de Jong. “The Walk also reflects our commitment, through our new Healthy Families BC strategy, to ensure that B.C. families have the information they need to live healthy, active lifestyles.”
Stroke and heart disease are the cause of one in three Canadian deaths and are a leading cause of disability. Hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure, is the main precursor to both ailments and is controllable; however, most people with hypertension do not know they have it – and as many as 400,000 British Columbians have untreated high blood pressure.
This year’s Ismaili Walk will feature a full day of live entertainment, delicious heart-healthy meals, and activities for the whole family. For more information, visit: www.ismailiwalk.org.
