Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island President and CEO, Francis Dietz along with more than 400 hospital employees and families raised over $41,000 for the American Heart Association. They raised money for heart disease/prevention and walked to help save lives at the 2011 Southern New England Start! Heart Walk. Mr. Dietz was this year’s Start! Heart Walk Chairman. The walk took place Saturday, May 21st at scenic Colt State Park in Bristol.

Friendly competition between Memorial’s departments brought 35 teams together for a worthy cause. The employees’ efforts earned Memorial Hospital ‘The Southern New England Hospital Cup’. The Hospital Cup is presented annually at the Southern New England Heart Walk to the hospital that raises the most funds through walker participation, not including sponsorship. Mr. Dietz launched the challenge to all hospitals in March to foster some healthy competition from healthcare professionals all over Southern New England.

An American suffers a heart attack about every 34 seconds and dies of cardiovascular disease every 37 seconds. Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds.

Organizers of the 2011 Southern New England Start! Heart Walk say more than 2,200 people participated on May 21st to raise both awareness and funds for heart disease. The event was nationally sponsored by Subway and Memorial Hospital was one of the local sponsors.