Evening star., 1949-02-07
Truman Urges Nation
To Give Full Support
To Heart Fund Drive


impetus to the District and ma
tional campaign for funds to COM
bat heart disease. declaring citi-
zens should give the utmost sup
port to the Government and
voluntary programs"
AS the campaign got under way
today in the Washington area to
raise $4,000 for fighting the
disease in this section, co-chair-
men for the drive here announced
that advance gifts already received
amount to more than $500.
The campaign is being carried
on under auspices of the Wash
ington Heart Association. an
affiliate of the American Heart
Association. The latter seeks to
raise $5.000,00O throughout the
Nation during the campaign which
is scheduled to continue through
February %.
Truman Asks Support.
President Truman said:
THE tremendous toll of heart
diseases must be of deep concern
to all Of our citizens. Combating
the Nations leading cause of
death has become our most seri-
GUS health problem.
Most recent figures compiled by
our national Office of vital sta
tistics show that more than 625.-
600 Americans die annually of
diseases Of the heart and blood
vessels. This total grows each year.
Included among the victims
are the young and the old, chill
dren Of school age, and thousands
Of men and women in the prime
Of life. The heart diseases, I am
informed. now account for one
out of every two deaths after the
age OF 40. Incredible as it may
seem, according to vital statis-
tics deaths from cardiovascular
diseases are greather than the
combined total of the next five
leading causes-cancer. accidents,
nephritis. pneumonia and tuber-
culoSis.
Obligation to Help.
II feel that it is the obligation
OF our citizens to give the utmost
support to the Government and
voluntary programs established
to fight heart diseases. It is es-
sential that we join with the med
ical profession in this public
health crusade.
Il therefore, call upon every
American to inform himself about
the heart diseases and the pro-
gram being undertaken to combat
them in the Nation and in his
community.
THE hope for progress lies in
the simple determination of each
one Of us to Operate with our
physicians in safeguarding indi-
vidual health and the health Of
the family and to work with our
neighbors in supporting commun-
ity efforts In the war against heart
diseases"
Harold e. Stassen, campaign
chairman for the national drive. >.
said tnat leaders of rledictue and
science are asking for funds that
can be used this year. He said:
I'm terms Of need. the Nation
wide goal should perhaps be $780,
100000. not $5.000000.
=B0eths to be Set Up.
The Washington Heart Associa-
ton announced that Mrs. Julius
Cohen, 3133 Oliver street NV.
has been named to supervise heart
fund booths to be set up in hotel
lobbies, stores and theaters. The
first of the booths was to be
opened today in the Hecht Co.
store and the Willard, Wardman
Park, Carlton and Shoreham Ho-
tells. The operation of booths in
the theaters is scheduled to begin
Thursday.
Members of the Washington
Heart Associations speakers
committee are to address civic,
service, political and other groups
during the campaign. DR.. Bernard
j. Walsh. secretary of the as
sociation, is scheduled to speak at
a meeting Of the Bethesda Cham
Der Of Commerce at tbs pm. to-
day.
Others to speak include Ralph
Becker, chairman of the speakers
committee, who is to speak at q
luncheon of the Advertising Club
at the Statler Hotel tomorrow,
and Arch Mcdonald who is to
address the Optimist Club at a
luncheon In the Mayflower Hotel
tomorrow.
Other events are scheduled for