In the amount of time it takes the average person to walk the distance of a 5K race, 68 people will suffer a stroke.

Houstonians join The Methodist Hospital System to battle a disease that affects someone every 40 seconds. The fourth annual Methodist Stride4Stroke 5K Walk/Run at Rice University brings together more than 3,100 people in the greater Houston area, raising more than $750,000 for stroke education and outreach.

The mortality rate for stroke in the greater Houston area remains higher than the national average, making it even more important for people of all ages to learn the signs and symptoms of this deadly disease.

“With the support of our co-presenting sponsor, Aramco Services Company, Methodist is helping increase awareness of the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States,” said Ron Girotto, president and CEO of The Methodist Hospital System.

Methodist’s 5K Walk/Run is part of a comprehensive initiative called Taking Strides4Stroke: Community Stroke Awareness Campaign. Led by the Methodist Neurological Institute (NI), the five-year plan promotes education and awareness of stroke symptoms, treatment, prevention and research. Since the campaign began in 2007, Methodist has assisted more than a dozen Texas hospitals in enhancing their stroke care programs. Most are now certified Primary Stroke Centers by The Joint Commission.

Funds raised benefit the NI and its stroke outreach education which serves all Methodist System hospitals, including The Methodist Hospital, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and Methodist Willowbrook Hospital.

For more information, go to www.methodiststride4stroke.com or call 832.667.5867.