SIU nursing students participate in last year’s Hearts in Motion Awareness Walk. (Photo provided)
August 28, 2025
Sign up underway for Hearts in Motion Awareness Walk at SIU
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Registration is now underway for the Hearts in Motion Awareness Walk, coming to Becker Pavillion and Campus Lake at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on the morning of Sept. 27.
Sponsored by the SIU nursing program, Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) and Prairie Heart Institute, the event is both a fundraiser and a public awareness activity.
“This event is more than a walk; it’s about raising awareness around cardiovascular disease and encouraging our community to take steps toward healthier habits, whether that’s getting screenings, talking with your doctor or simply being active together,” said Garrett Burton, SIH cardiovascular and trauma services system director. “What inspires me most is seeing SIU nursing students step into their roles as community health advocates. They’re not just learning how to care for patients at the bedside; they’re learning how to educate, engage and promote health in our region.”
SIU’s nurses of tomorrow make a difference today
This is the third year SIU nursing students have taken a lead in this event, according to Debra Penrod, assistant professor of nursing in the College of Health and Human Sciences’ School of Health Sciences.
“Our students will be doing cardiac health activities, including health screenings, educating participants and more,” Penrod said. “The proceeds from this event go toward enabling Prairie Heart and SIH to do more cardiac health community outreach. My dream is to get the entire campus and a lot of the community involved in this event.”
The family-friendly event will feature a variety of special activities for children as well as heart-health screenings.
Leashed pets are welcome to attend and participate; pet bandanas featuring the event logo will be available for $13.
Sign up now
Register for Hearts in Motion at sih.net/heartsinmotion through Sept. 12. The cost is $20 per person. Health care professions students and heart disease survivors will pay the discount price of $10.
Check-in begins at 8 a.m. on Sept. 27. The abbreviated walk kicks off at 9:30 a.m., and the full walk starts at 10 a.m.
“My hope is that this event continues to grow to the point where it becomes a cornerstone of our cardiovascular outreach, an event that engages hundreds of participants and that brings the whole community together in a meaningful way,” Burton said.
SIU’s Recreational Sports and Services is also an event co-sponsor, and in the event of inclement weather the walk will be moved to the Student Recreation Center.
For more details about the walk, visit the website.