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    • HeartHike.org

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

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

       

      Lifetime AT miles = 2,030

      Miles in 2020 = 838
      Remaining miles of trail (planned for 2021!) = 165

    • Donate to Ironheart Foundation
    • Updates

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Update: 4/7/2021

      The map above illustrates the mileage over the last few years.  The green line is my finish line!  The plan is to get back on the trail in the first few weeks of August and wrap up this hike!  I have a small portion of NH to finish; the Wildcats and the Carters to be exact... It is perhaps the steepest portion of the AT, steeper even than Katahdin! Then I have just under half of the state of Maine.  By all accounts the hardest part of Maine.  Southern Maine just north of the Mahoosuc Range.


      Currently, I am training with an old pack full of water bottles to try to get some trail legs for the finish line this summer. Working on getting my bodyweight down too.  Working from home really lends itself to packing on the pounds.  I kicked off my hiking season training with the Ironheart Step It Up Challenge in March with other Ironheart team members... 


      "The feet will only go as far as the mind will allow with permission from the heart"  

      Hike on.
      Ironheart 2020

    • 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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      West Virginia

      2017

      Maryland

      2017

      Pennsylvania

      2020

      New Jersey

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      New York

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      Connecticut

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      Massachusetts

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      Vermont

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      New Hampshire

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      Maine

      2020

    • Connect

      Instagram: ironheart_on_the_AT
      Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/hearthike

       
       
       
       
       
       
    • 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

       
       
       
       
       

      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

    • Press

       
       
       
       
       

      A sudden cardiac death survivor attempts a 2,190 mile Appalachian Trail hike - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE...

      Jackson, NJ: Cardiac death survivor will continue his attempt to hike the full Appalachian Trail.

       

      The Appalachian Trail spans 14 states from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine. John will average 12 miles per day enduring varying weather and terrain conditions along with possible wildlife encounters of snakes, bears, and coyotes while carrying a minimum of four days worth of food and all his gear on his back in a 30-pound pack.

       

      While there are many potential dangers and hardships, this is John’s dream and an integral part of his recovery process. John will hike each mile to raise awareness about:

      • Heart disease and the risk factors associated with it

      • The importance of heart screening and making heart-healthy choices

      • The option of endurance sport for cardiac survivors recovery

      • AED availability and CPR training

      He calls this campaign “Heart Hike” and hopes to inspire other survivors of cardiac events to “find their own hike and hike it” whether that “hike” is walking around the block, or training for a 5k, a triathlon or another form of sport.

       

      After being a self-proclaimed anxiety-ridden couch potato and smoker, John dropped dead in 2011 of a sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 49. Since then he drastically altered his lifestyle and adopted heart-healthy habits and has since completed 2,038 miles of the 2,193 mile AT. (From Georgia to Maine) - John plans to complete the remaining 160 plus miles in August of 2021 to complete the full Journey.


      John hikes under the trail name  “Ironheart” inspired by the Ironheart Foundation who has served as an inspiration for him throughout his recovery. John was motivated by Ironheart Foundation’s documentary, HEART: Flatline to Finish Line, which follows six cardiac event patients who attempt to cross the finish line of an Ironman competition.

       

      John, who recently went from survivor to foundation member to Cheif Development Officer of the Ironheart Foundation, is putting back on the trail to continue the Ironheart mission and give back to the supportive Ironheart community.

      About the Ironheart Foundation

      Ironheart Foundation uses physical movement and sport to transform, empower, and positively impact lives that have been affected by heart disease. The Ironheart Foundation has members in 49 states and 22 countries. The community is comprised of those living with heart disease, survivors, loved ones, supporters, and members of the medical community. https://www.ironheartfoundation.org/ 

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