Carbondale Reporter

Registration is now open for the annual Hearts in Motion Awareness Walk, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27 at Becker Pavilion and Campus Lake at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The event is organized by the SIU nursing program, Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH), and SIH Prairie Heart Institute. It serves as both a fundraiser and an effort to increase public awareness about heart health.

“This event is more than a walk; it’s about raising awareness around cardiovascular disease and encouraging our community to take steps toward healthier habits,” said Garrett Burton, DNP, SIH cardiovascular and trauma services system director. “It’s inspiring to watch SIU nursing students step into their roles as community health advocates. They’re not just learning how to care for patients at the bedside; they’re learning how to educate, engage and promote health in our region.”

Debra Penrod, assistant professor of nursing in the College of Health and Human Sciences’ School of Health Sciences, noted that this marks the third year SIU nursing students have played a leading role in organizing the event.

“Our students will be doing cardiac health activities, including health screenings, educating participants and more,” Penrod said. “The proceeds from this event go toward enabling Prairie Heart and SIH to do more cardiac health community outreach. My dream is to get the entire campus and a lot of the community involved in this event.”

In addition to walking activities focused on heart health education, Hearts in Motion will feature family-friendly entertainment and events for children. Leashed pets are welcome at the walk, with logoed pet bandanas available for purchase.

Participants can register online at https://www.sih.net/heartsinmotion until Sept. 12. Registration costs $20 per person; however, there is a discounted rate of $10 for healthcare professions students and heart disease survivors. Event check-in starts at 8 a.m., followed by an abbreviated walk at 9:30 a.m., with the full walk beginning at 10 a.m.

“My hope is that this event becomes a cornerstone of our cardiovascular outreach—bringing the community together in a meaningful way,” Burton said.