Butler/Warren County Heart Walk as important this year as ever

With pandemic restrictions in place, people can't gather this year to support the American Heart Association through the Butler/Warren County Heart Walk, but the need for support is as important this year as it is any other year.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BEAUTIFULWEEKEND WEATHER...FOR A GOODWALK...AND YOU CAN SUPPORT THEAMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION...ASYOU TAKE IT.THIS YEAR'SBUTLER-WARREN COUNTY HEARTWALK IS GOING VIRTUAL.WCPO 9 NEWS REPORTER ALLYKRAEMER IS LIVE WITH HOW YOUCAN STILL PARTICIPATE.JULIE - COVID-19 RESTRICTIONSARE PUTTING AN INCREDIBLEDAMPER ON BOTH THE EXCITEMENTOF GETTING TOGETHER TO WALKWITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLESUPPORTING A GREAT CAUSE, BUTALSO ON FUNDRAISING.THE SHIFT IN DONATIONS ISPARTICULARLY DIFFICULT RIGHTNOW BECAUSE LOCALLY THEAMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HASDONATED $8.4 MILLION TODOCTORS WORKING ON COVID-19RESEARCH.

FOR EXAMPLE,$800,000 WENT TO A DOCTOR ATCINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITALAND HER COVID RESEARCHEFFORTS.

THE WALK ISPARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TOMIDDLETOWN RESIDENT MARGARETMARTIN.

SHE'S BEENPARTICIPATING AND RAISINGMONEY FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS.IT'S PERSONAL FOR HER - HERMOTHER DIED OF A HEART ATTACKAND HER BROTHER IS STILLRECOVERING FROM A STROKE.SHE'S DEVASTATED THAT SHECAN'T GET OUT WITH HER FRIENDSAND FAMILY TO RAISE AWARENESSTHIS YEAR, BUT THE HEARTASSOCIATION TELLS US SHE'SSTILL MAKING A HUGE IMPACT.SO INSTEAD OF GATHERINGSATURDAY MORNING, THERE WILLBE A VIRTUAL KICK-OFF CEREMONYAT 10:00 AND THEN YOU'REENCOURAGED TO GET OUT AND WALKIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

ANDSINCE WE CAN'T ALL BE TOGETHER- THEY'RE ASKING THAT YOUSHARE PHOTOS ONLINE WITH THEHASHTAG - BWCHEARTWALKREPORTING LIVE, AK, WCPO 9NEWS.