“Isn’t this a great marriage? Having healthy people with a healthy heart on healthy land?” said Leo DelZotto, President of the Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada and Tridel, at last Sunday’s Walk of Life.
This year’s event was held at the Evergreen Brick Works, an entirely reinvigorated space from its humble beginnings as an industrial site to its current transformation as an environmental community centre. And it was the perfect spot for the Walk of Life — an event centered around healthy living.
It was the perfect place to spend a sunny Sunday morning. The Brick Works is nestled in the Don Valley, surrounded by nature and filled with with such an interesting mix of industrial elements and native landscaping. A free bus shuttled excited walkers, runners and cyclists from the Broadview subway station and upper parking lots. Over 1500 participants explored the large open spaces of the Brick Works, checking out the booths and munching on a heart smart breakfast from Whole Foods.
The Tridel team all suited up for the race.
A big crowd surrounded the DanceHeads booth — a fun idea where people are put in front of a green screen and their heads are super imposed onto dancing cartoons, making quite an entertaining music video to take home. The Endless Summer band also had quite a gathering on the dance floor to old surf-style covers.
Barbara Kennedy, Cardiac Health Foundation’s Executive Director, led everyone in a rousing warm-up to the walk, part of which can be seen below:
A parade was formed to the starting line of the race for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Then they were off! The runners started, followed by the walkers and, new this year, the cyclists.
The walkers start on their route through the Moore Park Ravine Trail.
Check out the Cardiac Health website for top times for the runners. This year’s Walk has so far raised more than $475,000, with donations and pledges being accepted until June 27 to qualify for incentive prizes. The money goes towards a great cause — prevention, education and cardiac rehabilitation. It also supports medical equipment, patient material, graduate scholarships and lectures on cardiac health.
More photos of the 2012 Walk of Life on the Tridel Facebook page.
