For the first time, the City of Arlington is launching an effort to recruit volunteers across the community to walk with Team Arlington and raise thousands of dollars for the American Heart Association's Heart Walk on September 8.

Mayor Robert Cluck, a physician and past honorary chair of the walk, is urging residents to join. "It's no secret that the City of Arlington has a strong commitment to health, and we continue to be national leaders in fundraising for the American Heart Association," Cluck said."Every dollar raised goes to continued research, advocacy and public education so that people across America can live stronger, longer lives."

Arlington has long supported the American Heart Association, but this is the first time it is reaching out to the entire community. City leaders hope to raise $60,000 in donations and recruit at least 350 city employees and volunteers to participate in the Sept. 8 walk in Fort Worth.

To do so, the city is sponsoring basketball and bowling tournaments, starting a penny drive competition among departments, throwing a spring roll party and a bake sale, offering zumba exercise classes and holding an online silent auction. Arlington also has reached out to the Arlington Independent School District and the University of Texas at Arlington to shore up donations and volunteers.

"We want to keep people healthy and get Arlington moving," said Machelle Athon, the Heart Walk team captain for the city's Information Technology department. "We are spreading this message to the rest of our community."

This is part of Arlington's ongoing efforts to improve the health of the city and its residents. Every year, every 5th grader receives a pedometer to record their steps as part of Let's Move with the Mayor. In addition, city leaders have worked with residents across the city to form neighborhood walking groups.

"Heart health is an important issue for all of us," said Dennis John, the city's chief information officer and leader of the fundraising efforts. "We want to invite the entire community to get involved."

Click here to join Team Arlington

Click for a map of the event

By Sarah Bahari