The Cardiovascular Health Education Campaign

The Cardiovascular Health Education Campaign (The CHEC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to raise global awareness for the importance of cardiovascular health, educate on prevention and consequences, and contribute to the support of at-risk communities through local programming, research, and fundraising. The CHEC was founded in 2020 to combat the rising prevalence of cardiovascular disease in our immediate, statewide, and national communities. We have explored various strategies to improve CVD education and have partnered with the NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute as a member of The Heart Truth® Healthy Hearts Network to learn and share current practices. Our current programs include: Nutrition In Neighborhoods: Partnered with over 110 food banks and family resource centers across 24 states to distribute our tailored poster series material, as low-income individuals and communities are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Community Care: Established partnership with the Triangle Disability Awareness Council in Chapel Hill, NC, and West End Community Center in Providence, RI, to provide free blood pressure and central vision exams (sign of diabetic retinopathy) along with sociological questionnaire to learn more about social determinants of health that may lead to high blood pressure. Heart2Heart Developed a text-message based intervention program for low-income communities. Individuals receive messages a week concentrated in various cardiovascular health areas (nutrition, exercise, stress management, etc). Currently implementing via the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.