Success at 2008 Heart on the Hill

On April 29, nearly 700 advocates from all 50 states and Puerto Rico made their presence known in Washington, D.C. Dressed in red, and equipped with a strong message, American Heart Association volunteers, board members, survivors and more visited their elected officials asking for increases in CDC and NIH funding for heart and stroke research, and lobbying a new issue, FIT Kids, which would serve as the physical education component for No Child Left Behind.

With more than 45 advocates, the Illinois delegation proved to be one of the largest state groups, and attended Capitol Hill visits with both U.S. Senate offices and 16 (of 19) U.S. Representative offices. Members of Congress and their staff were receptive to doing all they could to increase funding for research and signing on to support FIT Kids. Survivors--including first-timers and veterans, young and old--told their stories of heart disease, stroke and caregiving, sending a clear message of the need for greater attention to the mission of the American Heart Association.