10 October 2007--The American Heart/American Stroke Association has named the National Guard Readiness Center a Start! Fit Friendly Work Site. This gold-level recognition makes the Army National Guard (ARNG) the first Department of Defense organization to be recognized as a Fit Friendly ally in the battle against high blood pressure and obesity. Colonel David Sproat, ARNG Chief Surgeon will spearhead this effort.

Start! is the AHA's groundbreaking national movement that calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health to live longer, heart-healthy lives through walking. Promoting physical activity through workplace walking programs can help employees reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke and lead longer, stronger, healthier lives.

Brisk walking for 30 minutes on most, or preferably all days of the week can increase good cholesterol (HDL), lower blood pressure, reduce stress and can help attain and maintain a healthy body weight.

The ARNG is launching this effort to magnify its successful 2007 blood pressure awareness campaign, Get Cuffed! The Decade of Health Program is a 10-year strategic outreach campaign promoting a healthy military force by emphasizing the central message, "Always Ready, Always There… Always Healthy."

"The American Heart Association is honored to continue our alliance with the Army National Guard's Decade of Health program, and we applaud their efforts to provide Soldiers and civilian employees at the Arlington work site with the tools they need to maintain good cardiovascular health," said Daniel Jones, M.D., AHA president, the Herbert G. Langford professor of Medicine and dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Mississippi.

Please join the Decade of Health team and the American Heart Association at the 2007 Start! Greater Washington Heart Walk on Saturday, November 3, 2007 on The National Mall - Washington, DC - at 14th Street, NW between Madison and Jefferson. Entertainment begins at 0830, the Walk at 1000, and an awards celebration at 1100. Look for the Decade of Health table on Wednesday, 17 OCT outside of the NG Readiness Center cafeteria, and Thursday, 25 OCT at the NG Readiness Center Health and Crafts Fair to sign up, get a free pedometer, and more information about the ARNG Decade of Health and American Heart Association Alliance.

For more online information about the Greater Washington Heart Walk, please visit startwalk.wdc@heart.org and www.decadeofhealth.com.

If you wish to participate in your State/Territory, please visit http://www.kintera.com/spherelite/public/asp/eventcentral.asp?orgid=22 to find a Heart Walk near you.