PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PIERCE COUNTY HEART WALK

This year’s Pierce County Heart Walk will take place Oct. 4 in downtown Tacoma. Scott Seelye, vice president of HHJ Construction, Inc. in Fife, will chair the event this year.

Fife businessman chairs Heart Walk

By Meghan Erkkinen

Scott Seelye, vice president of HHJ Construction, Inc. in Fife, is working hard for healthy hearts in preparation for next month’s Heart Walk.

Seelye volunteered to serve as chair for the 2008 Pierce County Start! Heart Walk Oct. 4 in downtown Tacoma. In his position, Seelye has been working to solicit corporate donations and encourage employers to get their employees involved. The fundraising goal for this year’s event is $440,000, and Heart Walk organizers are hoping to get a third of that from corporate sponsors.

“It’s a big challenge, especially with the economy right now,” Seelye said. “It’s hard to get those corporate funds.”

So far, he has raised $120,000 toward his goal of around $160,000. The money raised for the event goes to help the American Heart Association continue providing medical research grants in the state of Washington, and to fund initiatives that protect Pierce County residents from cardiovascular disease.

Although Seelye is frequently involved in community service activities, through his local Rotary and elsewhere, the Heart Walk was a special draw for him. Seelye’s wife, Debbie, suffers from mitral valve prolapse, a heart disorder that occurs when the valve between the heart’s upper and lower chambers does not close properly. Debbie Seelye was diagnosed with the disease about 15 years ago. So far, apart from minor lifestyle changes, the disease has not greatly impacted the Seelyes’ lives.

“It’s not a critical problem, but we have to be careful,” Scott Seelye said. “It’s just something [doctors] have monitored.”

Seelye’s mother also died from congestive heart failure.

Apart from his financial goals, Seelye hopes to have other impacts on the community through his work.

“I think it is really getting the awareness of cardiac disease and stroke,” he said. “They’re the number one and three killers. I think sometimes they get overlooked a little bit.”

Seelye hopes the Heart Walk goes a long way toward educating people about causes, symptoms and early detection. He also hopes to get the message out to women about heart attacks – the number one cause of death for women – which are often seen as a male affliction.

The Heart Walk on Oct. 4 begins at Pacific Avenue and South 8th Street in downtown Tacoma. There are two non-competitive walks – a four-mile walk and a two-mile survivors’ walk. The walk is followed by a fun festival, with exhibits, food and activities for families.

For more information on the Heart Walk, visit www.piercecountyheartwalk.org. To participate, call Jen Masar at (253) 272-7854.

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