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  • HeartHike
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  • Hike
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  • Advocates
    • HeartHike.org

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Sudden cardiac arrest survivor, John "Ironheart" Kolker, from New Jersey section hiked the 2,193 mile Appalachian Trail to raise awareness and funds for the Ironheart Foundation...

       

      Lifetime AT miles = 2,193+ Completed on August 23, 2021!

    • Updates

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Update: 8/23/2021

      Done! Just got off trail in Maine.

       

      ... I just did the hardest 165 miles North of Mount Washington in 3 weeks!

      2193 plus miles on the Appalachian Trail...
       

      It took me 4 years but I am different, better and done...
       

      "I have two doctors, my left leg and my right." - G.M. Trevelyan
       

      I'm humbled at the second chance I was granted by God's grace, the resiliency of the human spirit to overcome, the support and love of the hiking community, my family and close friends.
       

      The Ironheart Foundation is an organization that supports, encourages, and connects survivors of cardiac events worldwide and in many cases is the catalyst to change lives.

    • Hiker

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      "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 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-distance hikes in 2016 and 2017 to raise heart-health awareness and funds for Ironheart.

       

      Read John's story on the Ironheart Foundation web site...

       

    • Gallery

       
       
       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Georgia

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      North Carolina

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      Tennessee

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      Virginia

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      West Virginia

      2017

      Maryland

      2017

      Pennsylvania

      2020

      New Jersey

      2020

      New York

      2020

      Connecticut

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      Massachusetts

      2020

      Vermont

      2020

      New Hampshire

      2020

      Maine

      2021

    • 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
        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

      • Ironheart's daily distance averages from 7 to 16 miles

      • There are more than 250 three-sided shelters and various trail towns along the trail

    • Advocates

       
       
       
       
       

      Enlightened Equipment

      Peak Refuel

      Greybeard Performance

      swdbackpacks

      Superior Wilderness Designs

      Hammer Nutrition

      CA Technologies

      Yama Mountain Gear

      Pacerpole.com

      Pacerpole

      Pro-Tec Athletics

      Action Wipes

      AWOL David Miller

      Aquamira

      Buff USA

      DelmoSports

      Easton Technical

      Euroschirm

       

      GoodWorks Band

      Leki

      LifeForce USA

      luminAID

      Okabashi

      Soto Outdoors

      SUPERfeet

      Thule

      Zmen Media Group

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