HeartHike.org
Sudden cardiac arrest survivor, John "Ironheart" Kolker, from New Jersey is section hiking the 2,190 mile Appalachian Trail to raise awareness and funds for the Ironheart Foundation...
"Ironheart" is fighting heart disease one step at time...
John's Story
On Dec. 17, 2011, John Kolker dropped dead of a sudden cardiac arrest, caused by a myocardial infarction at the age of 49.
Resuscitated at the scene by courageous volunteers trained in CPR with an AED (automated external defibrillator), he spent three iffy days refusing to come out of a therapeutic hypothermia induced coma. Graciously, John came out of the coma and underwent successful cardiac catheterization and stent placement to two blocked coronary arteries.
John is an Army Veteran, was a smoker for 31 years, overweight since his release from active duty in the 90's and severely inactive. He never went to the doctor for checkups. His lifestyle had killed him. With his second chance at life, John quit smoking and began frequent medical screenings and researching his rehabilitation options.
Researching on the web, John continued to find stories and videos of other survivors who have become Ironheart Foundation athletes. John recalls that day when he announced to his family that he would not go on disability, but would return to work and pursue his vision of becoming a triathlete.
For the first months, John could barely walk from the bed to the kitchen but gradually made it to the pool, onto the bike and the running track. He changed his diet and began training for endurance events. Not only has he lost over 56 pounds since his heaviest weight, but he has completed 12 sprint triathlons, several bike rides of over 50 miles to include one across the entire state of NJ. John joined the Ironheart Foundation and met and was inspired by Ironheart Foundation founder, David Watkins when Dave made time to visit John in New Jersey in 2013.
John is a zealous advocate for heart-healthy choices and second chances and his involvement with Ironheart continues as he prepares for more sprint triathlons and long-distanced hikes in 2016 and 2017 to raise heart-health awareness and funds for Ironheart.
Read John's story on the Ironheart Foundation web site...
Give
Donate to Ironheart Foundation via crowdrise
100% of the funds raised by Heart Hike go directly to our charitable beneficiary, the Ironheart Foundation...
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Updates
Update: 12/3/2018
Hiked more new miles in southern PA and VA miles at the end of the summer and during the fall months with some good friends and co-workers...
Will be continuing my quest in the spring...
CURRENT LIFETIME AT MILES = 1,067
Hike
The mission of HeartHike.org is to raise awareness, advocacy and funds in the fight against heart disease…
By hiking the full length of the Appalachian Trail the goal is to:
Raise awareness about:
Heart disease
Risk factors
Screening
Heart-healthy choices
Recovery
Endurance sport for cardiac survivors
Promote advocacy
Endurance sport for cardiac survivors
Motivate survivors of cardiac events to“...find your own hike and hike it” whether that “Hike” is walking around the block, a 5k, a triathlon or a long distance hike
Increase collaboration and advocacy at the individual and organizational level
Inspire “First Chancers” to make better choices
Raise funds
100% of the funds raised by Heart Hike go directly to our charitable beneficiary, the Ironheart Foundation - www.ironheartfoundation.org.
Trail
Appalachian Trail facts
Over 2,190 miles long over rugged mountainous terrain traversing 14 states
Southern end is at Springer Mountain, Georgia
Northern end is at Mount Katahdin, Maine
Daily distance averages from 7 to 16 miles
There are more than 250 three-sided shelters and various trail towns along the trail
Of the few thousand annual hike attempts, 1 in 4 who attempt a full hike actually finish
Seven (7) recorded successful hikes by hikers with heart disease of 14,000 completions since the 1930’s*
No recorded Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor completions*
*According to Researchers at the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the organization that manages all things AT)
Contact
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