STHS Annual Steps For Stroke Challenge To Spread Stroke Awareness

Taking place May 17-23, the 50,000-step challenge aims to get the community to understand the importance of physical activity in any form, which can help reduce one’s risk of stroke and other serious health complications

Nearly 800,000 people in the United States experience a stroke each year, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with about 1 in 20 of those cases resulting in death.

Understanding the warning signs and symptoms of a stroke is imperative because the chances of surviving a brain attack increase greatly when medical treatment is executed swiftly.

Unfortunately, studies suggest that less than 40% of adults can accurately identify the major warning signs of a stroke, including facial drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulty, and know to call 9-1-1 immediately when someone was having a stroke, potentially delaying crucial medical attention aimed at preventing disability and death.

To help cultivate a better understanding of the dangers of stroke in the Rio Grande Valley, the South Texas Health System Neuroscience & Stroke Institute is hosting its fifth annual Steps for Stroke community challenge from Saturday, May 17 – Friday, May 23.

The weeklong 50,000-step challenge and competition aims to help educate the community on the common signs of a stroke while promoting the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle, including being physically active, to reduce one’s risk of stroke.

“Studies show that sitting less and moving more can help reduce your risk of stroke in many different ways, including lowering your blood pressure, stabilizing your blood sugar count and reducing your cholesterol level,” says Tom Castaneda, System Director of Marketing & Public Relations, South Texas Health System. “It doesn’t matter how you do it; you just have to get moving. Whether you prefer going for a long walk or dancing to music while cleaning the house, each step you take is one that helps reduce your risk of stroke!”

The Steps for Stroke challenge encourages participants to walk, run or even dance their way to a minimum of 10,000 steps per day – that’s a minimum of 50,000 steps total during the competition period of May 17-23 – and log their daily step count on the official challenge website, STHSActive.com. Trophies will be awarded to the top finishers in three categories: community, STHS staff and first responders.

To kick off the competition, STHS McAllen will host a special Steps for Stroke Pep Rally on Saturday, May 17, from 9:00– 11:00 a.m. Along with picking up their challenge packets, contestants will have the chance to start registering their steps by taking part in a variety of interactive exercise demonstrations.

Registration can be completed at STHSActive.com. People can register early at a reduced fee of $15 until May 2. The Late registration fee after May 2 will be $20. The registration fee includes the official 2025 Steps for Stroke T-shirt, although a T-shirt is not guaranteed with late registration.

All proceeds will benefit a local charity helping to prevent strokes in the Rio Grande Valley.

About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and six freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of South Texas Health System. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.