The Montgomery County Heart Walk connects families and businesses to move for heart health

WOODLANDS, Texas – The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit focused on ensuring longer, healthier lives for all, has announced Kiewit Corporation as chairman of the 2022 Montgomery County Heart Walk. has named Ben Bentley, executive vice president of

In this role, Bentley has a $400,000 fundraising goal to support the life-saving efforts of the American Heart Association. Through corporate sponsors and donors, the Association is working to change the landscape of employee health and engagement, impacting the communities where more Houston employees live and work.

This approach has a strong business case. Workplace stress is as harmful as second-hand smoke, and U.S. workers are the most stressed out in the world. I’m saying Work-related stress increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 40%.

“Building a culture in which employees thrive is a business imperative,” says Bentley. “The American Heart Association’s approach to employee health helps business leaders promote health and well-being and unlock the power of a healthy, happy workforce. It is more important than ever when evaluating strategies on environmental, social and governance issues.”

The American Heart Association’s Heart Challenge® is a series of activities and initiatives, including the Heart Walk, aimed at helping companies positively impact the overall health and well-being of their employees. The program is based on a series of customizable workplace events to keep employees more engaged, reconnecting with colleagues, participating in physical activity, supporting causes and having a lot of fun doing it.

Exercise is an important component of our mental and physical health. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of activity per week. The Heart Challenge campaign is designed to encourage people to find opportunities to move every day and encourage employees to move more and spend less time sitting. Starting small and staying consistent can lead to big changes in the long run.

The Montgomery County Heart Challenge culminates in the Heart Walk on November 12 at North Shore Park in The Woodlands, bringing the community together by celebrating good health and honoring survivors. Bentley will be joined by other like-minded regional executives working to promote physical and mental health, combat burnout and foster community engagement.

“People will spend more than 90,000 hours at work in their lifetime. Time affects the lives of individuals and families, and ultimately impacts the communities around them,” Bentley said. “Businesses, businesses, and small businesses all owe it to their workers and communities to focus on the mental, physical, and emotional health of their employees. One way to do this is to support the American Heart Association. and its resources to help staff develop healthier habits, reduce tobacco use, improve sleep habits and create a more inclusive work environment.”

Other Heart Challenge events in Montgomery County include CycleNation®. This is a high-energy, hands-on aerobics event that puts the brakes on stroke and heart disease. This year his CycleNation is scheduled for his Spring 2023. Additionally, company Field Days are held throughout the year. This helps create play space in the workplace while raising critical funds to end heart disease and stroke. Whether in the company office or home office, employees can participate in fun physical and mental challenges, provide opportunities for meaningful social connections, and take breaks during work hours to combat burnout. , reduce stress.

“We spend more time at work than in any activity other than sleep. It’s important to find ways to manage stress and develop healthier habits,” says the American Heart Association Gulf Coast. said Kelly Armstrong, regional vice president of development. “People perform their best when they feel their best. Research shows that well-designed, fully implemented, and rigorously evaluated employee health and well-being programs can improve employee health. “With the Houston Heart Challenge and Ben’s leadership this year, the American Heart Association is making great strides in improving employee health and engagement.”

Funds raised at all Heart Challenge events will be used to support the realization of longer, healthier lives through investment in groundbreaking research and advocacy that addresses system-level policies to reduce health disparities. Fund the American Heart Association’s mission to be a constant force. In its hometown of Montgomery County, the fund supports community impact efforts addressing nutrition security, high blood pressure, women’s health, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. These have been identified as key priorities for the Houston metropolitan area to drive work towards achieving the association’s 2024 Health Equality Impact Goals and reduce barriers to access and quality of healthcare.

To find out how to get your employees involved in Heart Challenge events or to join Ben Bentley and other local leaders, please visit MontgomeryCountyHeartWalk.org or contact Lisa.Fenley@heart.org.

The American Heart Association is a constant force for living longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Working with dozens of organizations and supported by millions of volunteers, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for public health, and share life-saving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Heart.org, Facebook, Twitter, or call 1-800-AHA-USA1.