By Tim Kelly
When Maryann Payne felt the deep chest pain, her husband Steve did not hesitate.
“He took me right to the hospital, thank goodness,” Maryann said. “That decision saved my life.”
One of the Egg Harbor Township woman’s arteries was completely blocked. She was having a massive heart attack.
“I went into cardiac arrest and they had to defibrillate me eight times,” Maryann said. “Eventually they brought me back.”
Although that event occurred just four months ago, Maryann and Steve participated yesterday in the Southern New Jersey Spring Heart Walk on the Ocean City Boardwalk.
They were joined by sons, Ethan and Nate, and friends Kate Austin, of Marmora, Joan Posluszny, of Ocean City and Christina and daughter, Juliet, as part of a throng of nearly 3,000 walkers who turned out for the 22nd consecutive staging of the American Heart Association’s event in the resort.
In the process, they helped to raise approximately $40,000 to benefit research, education and awareness of heart disease.
The Payne’s group, clad in powder blue T-shirts and sponsored by Thomas Heist Insurance Agency of Ocean City, were one of approximately 200 teams walking in support or remembrance of someone affected by heart disease.
“That’s what it’s about,” said Deb VanSant, the AHA Regional Director. “For every walker out here, there is a personal story (about dealing with heart disease).”
Many teams were comprised of between 10 and 15 walkers.
However, there were also smaller teams that were every bit as passionate, such as Jean’s Gems, a three-person squad of Monique Younger, of Galloway, Glenn White, of Wilkes Barre, Pa., and 8-year-old Nevaeh Younger, of Galloway, a student at Smithville Elementary School.
They were walking in remembrance of their mother and grandmother, Jean White, who passed away 19 years ago.
“It’s also to help bring awareness to the prevention aspects. Heart disease is a big killer of women,” said Monique. “To spread the word about prevention can actually save lives.”
The walk was helped by bright sunshine and a cool breeze that helped keep participants energized.
The city of Ocean City was also a huge help, VanSant said.
“Ocean City is the bomb. Everyone opens doors for us and helps us to make the walk a success,” she noted. “They are very supportive of just about anything that benefits the community.”
The event also featured a program emceed by local DJ Michael James of Eye to Eye Media, words from event chair Dave Robbins, a senior vice president at South Jersey Industries, as well as next year’s chair, Dr. Haitham R. Dib, an AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center heart specialist.
Entertainment was provided by the Egg Harbor Township High School Key Club and Bridgeton High School Interact Club, which combined to form a cheer line.
Volunteers from the Atlantic County Institute of Technology helped organize the event and Ray Glanville III performed the National Anthem.
The began at a decorated “starting arch” and the walkers took to the boards. They made donations and/or recruited pledges to help the Heart Association reach its fundraising goal.
The top sponsors included South Jersey Industries, the Heart Institute at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, NJM Insurance Group, Shore Medical Center and Penn Medicine Cardiology. Media sponsors were Lite Rock 96.9 FM and SNJ Today.
Hundreds of individual volunteer workers and volunteer group representatives also turned out to set up sponsor tents, snack and drink stations and the myriad of details required to make the walk such a success.
“It’s a great feeling as an event organizer to go down the checklist of everything that has to be done and to realize we’re covered. It is going to be taken care of,” VanSant said.
She continued, “This is why the event has always been in Ocean City. There has been an absolute outpouring of support.”
