A motivated team of more than 50 Westchester County employees who took to their feet to help fight heart disease received top honors recently when they were recognized as the top corporate team for the 2010 “Westchester Start! Heart Walk.”The county contingent – which included members from almost every department – raised $21,090 through a variety of fundraisers, including a three-mile walk Oct. 3 at Kensico Park Dam. Representatives received a recognition plaque Jan. 19 at the Top Walkers Reception, an event held every year to acknowledge the most successful fundraisers. County employees raised the money by holding a bake sale and luncheon, sponsoring a raffle for 27 baskets and jewelry, selling paper hearts and collecting individual contributions.
“We had volunteers from almost every department and they went out of their way to make sure this was a success,” said Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett, who served as co-chair for the walk. “I want to thank them all for their hard work and generosity.”
This is the second year in a row that the county received the top corporate team recognition. A total of $56,000 was raised over the last two years, according to Team Coordinator Patricia Magilton.
“It was a personal thing for a lot of the people involved,” Magilton said. “So many of their family and friends have been affected one way or another – whether it be by a heart attack, stroke, or another type of coronary heart disease – and they really wanted to step up and do something to help.”
Employees already have their next project lined up: the Go Red for Women campaign. To call attention to the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of women, employees will be offering red dress pins for $5 and asking both men and women to pay $10 for “permission” to wear jeans and a red shirt on National Wear Red Day on Feb. 4.