John E. Ford Students Hosted Heart Health Walk

The Jacksonville school celebrated National Heart Day with a walk led by three students and staff who survived surgery.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Heart Disease

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a red anatomical heart silhouette on a winding track path, representing community health awareness. — Students and staff at Jacksonville's John E. Ford PreK-8th grade school held a heart health walk to raise community awareness for National Heart Day. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe local schools should hold awareness events to promote student heart health?

Over 700 students and staff at John E. Ford PreK-8th in Jacksonville participated in their first Heart Walk to raise awareness for heart health. The event was led by three survivors of open-heart surgery, including the school principal and two students.

Why it matters

The walk served as a commemorative event for National Heart Day, aiming to improve awareness of heart-related conditions among the school community. Organizers hope that sharing personal survival stories will inspire greater health education in the classroom.

The school reported 700 students and staff participating in the inaugural event. Participants included individuals who have faced significant medical procedures, such as Kori Phillips, who underwent three open-heart surgeries.

The players

Tina Bennett

Tina Bennett is the principal of John E. Ford PreK-8th who underwent and recovered from open-heart surgery in 2026.

Kori Phillips

Kori Phillips is a student at the school who has undergone three separate open-heart surgeries.

Parker Angiuli

Parker Angiuli is a student at the school who underwent open-heart surgery as an infant.

The details

Participants walked together from the school's decorated hallways to the track field to honor heart health survivors. Principal Tina Bennett, who returned to the school following a 12-week recovery from open-heart surgery, joined students Kori Phillips and Parker Angiuli to lead the movement.

September 29, 2026: John E. Ford PreK-8th held its first Heart Walk.

The Big Picture

The walk was held in observation of National Heart Day, which serves as an annual prompt for institutions to focus on cardiovascular health advocacy. The event directly followed the national observance to promote local cardiovascular wellness.

This initiative highlights the reality that students and staff may be navigating significant medical recoveries while participating in daily activities. It encourages the local community to recognize the signs of heart conditions and support survivors in educational settings.

The takeaway

Sharing personal stories of recovery can help destigmatize cardiovascular conditions within local schools. Implementing regular, low-impact exercise events is a practical way for institutions to encourage active habits and awareness.