On May 4th, over 70 You’re the Cure volunteers ascended on our State’s Capitol in Harrisburg to educate our lawmakers about lifesaving legislation that would help reduce heart disease and stroke. Under the Capitol Dome, the halls were buzzing with lots of other group activities and press conferences. But amidst all of this, You’re the Cure volunteers, all dressed in red and delivering life-saving messages, made quite the impact that was noticed by many inside the Capitol!

Throughout the day, volunteers met with over 90 legislators or legislative staff members asking for support of three bills: House Bill 816, which would lay the foundation for a state-based Heart Disease and Stroke Program; House Bill 1572, which would establish nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages sold in schools; and Senate Bill 1322, which would expand Pennsylvania’s AED Good Samaritan to protect AED program facilitators.

A press conference was held to highlight the epidemic of childhood obesity and why it’s so important for children and parents to be advocates for their own health. Messages emphasized making small changes like being more physically active and eating healthier foods, and highlighted how schools can be part of this solution.
We know how precious your time is and we THANK YOU for sharing some of your time in Harrisburg to help the American Heart Association’s advance its mission through policy change. We look forward to seeing everyone at next year’s Advocacy Day, which will be announced in the near future!