The American Heart Association is bringing its HeartChase event — an “Amazing Race” meets “Minute to Win It” challenge — to downtown Holland on June 22, and the community is invited to join in the fun to raise funds and awareness to fight heart disease and stroke.
In this fun with a purpose event, teams of two to five players use their smart phone to solve clues and complete challenges at checkpoints within a two mile radius of downtown Holland. Challenges might include hula-hoop stations, learning and performing a short Zumba routine before a judge, or wriggling through a children’s fabric tunnel with foam noodles to represent the cholesterol found in an artery.
The course is designed to get the participants’ heart rates up with engaging activities, while raising funds for the American Heart Association through a registration fee and sponsorship. The challenges are suited for people of most ages and abilities, and do not require advance training or endurance.
HeartChase Holland begins and ends at “game central,” which is the Padnos Transportation Center occupied by the Macatawa Area Express transit system. The first team back to game central with the most points wins.
“There’s a serious message underneath all of the whacky challenges,” said Sherri Cadeaux, marketing and customer service manager for the Macatawa Area Express and a member of the HeartChase committee.
“The event is designed to get people moving and to help raise awareness of heart disease and stroke, which are the area’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers, respectively. That affects a lot of area families,” Cadeaux continued. “We invite local business, church and civic groups, family and friends to form a team and join in the fun on June 22.”
HeartChase was launched by the American Heart Association in 2012, and has been brought to communities, like Holland, that have a high level of health consciousness and community involvement. Participants are asked for a $20 registration fee to join the event and are encouraged to recruit friends or families to join their team or donate.
