Together Our Impact is Greater

Pro football legend Jerome Bettis, the former running back better known as “The Bus,” brought a heart health message to the big game in New Orleans on behalf of the CDC Foundation and the cardiovascular health initiative Live to the Beat. “It’s really for me an honor to be working with the CDC Foundation and Live to the Beat,” Bettis told People magazine. "Heart health is critically important and I think a lot of people don't understand hypertension [and] high blood pressure. These things are killers, especially in the Black community.”

Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans, and research shows that substance use is increasingly linked to deaths from cardiac arrest and strokes. Our Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) initiative provides staff to local communities to aid in reducing deaths from overdose and substance use, leading to more effective response activities across the country. “Substance use disorders increase the risk of heart disease, yet stigma prevents many from seeking care,” said Keaura Looney, an OD2A project manager. “By integrating prevention, harm reduction and increasing access to treatment, we can save lives and promote recovery.”

CDC Foundation’s is launching the Live to the Beat campaign “Legacy of Heart Health” with help from NFL Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis to share resources to help Black adults address the stress that makes it challenging to focus on heart health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently celebrated its 73rd Annual CDC/ATSDR Honor Awards. Through its participation in this annual event, the CDC Foundation recognizes outstanding leadership in public health, amplifying the life-saving work of CDC.