COLUMBUS, Ohio — Thousands of people stepped off for the 2023 Central Ohio American Heart Association Heart Walk Saturday.

What You Need To Know

  • 15,000 people participated in the 2023 Central Ohio American Heart Association Heart Walk to help save lives and raise money

  • The event also celebrates survivors

  • Organizers say this year the event raised nearly $1.5 million

  • All proceeds help save lives from the No. 1 and No. 5 killers in the US — heart disease and stroke

They walked through downtown Columbus with one goal — defeat heart disease and save lives.

Among the walkers was Ali Dorsett.

“In 2018, I had lost my mom to a heart issue. So, I’m walking in honor of my mom Judy,” said Dorsett.

But she’s also faced struggles of her own.

“In December of 2019, I would feel a sharp pain in my chest,” Dorsett explained. “A friend who’s in the medical field, she said, 'You should get that looked at.' And looking back, I think maybe it was my mom text me on the shoulder, urging me to go in and get it looked at.”

That's when she learned she had dilated cardiomyopathy, which is a common cause of heart failure, but she's not alone.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease occurs every 39 seconds and is the number one killer in the U.S. Heart disease also kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. Executive director of the Central Ohio American Heart Association Nancy Tobbe said the solution can be simple.

"We know cardiovascular disease is highly preventable, from getting more sleep to eating healthy,” Tobbe explained. “Knowing your numbers is so important, your blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and even knowing about your family history."

For Dorsett, she says her symptoms are minor for now, but eventually a heart transplant may be her only true fix. But she remains positive.

“My family and my kids and my husband, they have been such a big part of my life, and I just try to be a good example for them and stay active so I can see them grow old, and have children and be a part of their lives forever,” said Dorsett.

Dorsett's messenge to others dealing with a heart condition, like herself: “I definitely do believe in listening to your body. I think that your body tries to tell you that something is up or out of normal. You never know. You can be in great shape and still have a condition that affects your life.”

This year, the heart walk raised nearly $1.5 million. All proceeds go toward saving lives from the number one and number five killers in the U.S.: Heart disease and stroke.