CEOs Gather for Heart Walk Kickoff

Mel Blackwood, regional executive for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, told executives at a recent American Heart Association event at Walton Arena in Fayetteville that 25 percent of all the claims his company paid during 2002 were related to cardiovascular illnesses. ABCBS has about 120,000 members in Northwest Arkansas.rt

The event for local company leaders served as a corporate kickoff for the April 4 Northwest Arkansas Heart Walk that will be held at the same facility.rt

During 2002 and 2003, AHA is funding $492,223 worth of cardiovascular research in Arkansas. That includes 11 research projects at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.r

CVD and stroke killed 10,512 Arkansans during 2000, more than seven times any other disease.r