RALEIGH, N.C. – Retired banker Colon Terrell will begin walking from Cape Hatteras on March 1st headed west on a 3,000 mile trek to Santa Monica, Ca. with intentions to raise awareness and funding for heart health, while also inspiring others who have battled heart conditions.

As his retirement date was approaching after 41 years as a banker, Terrell wanted to start the next phase of his life with something both unique and worthwhile. Having had a major heart attack and open heart, five bypass surgery in 2009, Terrell had become an advocate for promoting a heart healthy lifestyle of which exercise is a critical component. As a former marathoner (before two knee operations), walking was his preferred form of exercise. So a walk, a very long walk, to raise awareness of heart disease prevention was a natural choice for his retirement celebration.

More than one-fourth of Americans (83 million people) suffer from some form of heart disease, known or unknown to them. Heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of deaths in the US, each causing more deaths than the next three causes combined. Heredity is a primary factor, as it was in Terrell’s case, but a healthy diet, stress management and an active lifestyle can help prevent heart attacks and prolong life.

“I hope that my 3,000-mile walk will be noticed by many across the country and will inspire heart attack survivors to take steps to prevent that next, perhaps fatal, attack and encourage many others to include a regular exercise program as a part of their daily and weekly routine,” says Terrell. “If my walk results in even one person making a positive lifestyle change, the effort will be well worthwhile.”

The North Carolina Bankers Association brings together all categories of banking institutions that best represent the interests of our rapidly changing state. The state’s banks have provided support to their communities since 1864 and are proud to support Colon Terrell. Current  listings are available  at www.ncba.com.