CARLSBAD — Seven years ago a group of five North County residents got together to create a locally based organization to provide heart disease and stroke prevention programs to the community. The result was the nonprofit Cardiovascular Disease Foundation at 3088 Pio Pico Drive, Suite 202. In the years since then, CVDF has grown to provide free wellness information and health screenings for more than 10,000 people of all ages.
When physicians Franklin Zalman, Michael Manolescu, along with Bud Lewis, Loraine Dyson and Malinda Engerer met in 2002, they started out with the idea to help people benefit from the advances that have been made in the treatment, detection and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
CVDF and its many volunteers conduct numerous health screenings for blood pressure, body fat, cholesterol and glucose at numerous locations throughout San Diego County. It offers talks and presentations by physicians on topics such as: heart health, stroke awareness and prevention, diabetes and heart disease, Alzheimer’s and heart disease, women and heart disease, and healthy eating choices and nutrition. At their annual 5K Walk for Life & Free Health Fair and monthly MeetUp walking groups, they promote physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
Its James G. Murray Access to Care program assists seniors, their families and caregivers in accessing outpatient healthcare and providing answers to care management questions. CVDF also works with young people and their families through its Healthy Habits, Healthy KidsSM program, traveling to youth centers and schools to present kid-friendly interactive discovery stations and hands-on learning opportunities to introduce children to the importance of healthy eating habits and regular physical activity.
The community is invited to join the efforts of the Cardiovascular Disease Foundation. Information about CVDF events and activities and how to participate is available at www.CVDF.org and www.WalkForLife.us or by calling Malinda Engerer or Tamara Urie or Sandra Zeitzew at the CVDF office at (760) 730-1471 or toll free at (888) 249-9575.
The Cardiovascular Disease Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Carlsbad.
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