Local Man Working to Save Hearts

2BigHearts-FoundationJim Clarke and his 2 BigHearts Foundation have been making a difference in women’s healthcare. For more than seven years, the 2 BigHearts Foundation has been saving hearts and proving that conventional thought on how to detect heart disease in women needs to change.

2 BigHearts is the living legacy of Gigi Clarke and Sally Czechanski, two sisters who each unknowingly suffered from an enlarged heart muscle—a silent condition that tragically took their lives on the same day, 90 minutes apart. Their untimely deaths brought to light the reality that 64% of women who die suddenly of heart disease had no previous symptoms and the determination to make the most comprehensive heart screening a standard of care.

By providing free heart screenings, 2 BigHearts has not only saved the lives of local women, it has discovered that nearly one in 10 women have undiagnosed heart conditions which conventional tests could not detect. This is an alarming statistic, and one that 2 BigHearts is working to change by bringing awareness to the issue through community events such as its annual 5K.

2-BigHearts-Run-Walk2 BigHearts Foundation Annual 5K Run/Walk

Who: 2 BigHearts Foundation Sponsors include: Indiana University Health La Porte Hospital, Tahoe Capital and Clarke Advertising

What: A heart-healthy activity for all that raises awareness for women’s heart health. Each stride brings 2 BigHearts closer to offering another woman a free, comprehensive heart screening. And, each heart screening gets us closer to making the most comprehensive cardiac testing the standard for all women.

Where: Long Beach Community Center 2501 Oriole Trail Long Beach, Indiana 46360

When: Saturday, May 28, 2011 7:30 a.m. Registration Opens 9 a.m. Run/Walk Starts

How: Registration details, course map and directions are available at www.2bighearts.org

Why: Through events and strategic partnerships, 2 BigHearts is raising awareness that heart disease is the #1 health risk to women, with the ultimate goal of changing healthcare industry policy and make the most comprehensive cardiac testing the standard for all women.

About the 2 BigHearts Foundation

The uniqueness of 2 BigHearts lies in its free heart screening program, which can detect silent heart conditions. The data that 2 BigHearts has collected since 2004 has been shocking, suggesting that heart disease exists in a significantly higher number of women than conventionally thought.

Our vision is to see the 2 BigHearts-style screening recognized as the industry standard and be made available to all women at their annual check-up--even to those without symptoms. To learn how to give women's heart disease the fight it deserves today, visit www.2bighearts.org.