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Association hosts Southern Delaware Heart Walk

Participants step off for the Southern Delaware Heart Walk Nov. 2, on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
November 10, 2025

Hundreds of walkers and survivors of heart disease and stroke joined together to raise funds and awareness for the American Heart Association Nov. 2, at the Southern Delaware Heart Walk on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. 

The group came together to remember people lost and honor survivors, and to raise money to support research and programs that help everyone live longer, healthier lives.

For more information, go to www.heart.org.

 

Vic Caristrum, who had a heart transplant, hands out hats to survivors.
Working the Heart Walk swag booth are (l-r) co-chairs Sarah Neely-Collins, Ben Collins and Dawenda Dorciun-Mannings.
Lilly Steele, 7, plays catch in the Heart Walk Kids Zone.
Cristen Owen, community and employee engagement coordinator, left, and Mary Green, director of marketing, work the Beebe Healthcare information booth.
The I.G. Burton group poses for a picture before the walk.
The TidalHealth group poses before the Heart Walk.
And they’re off!
Awaiting the walk are (l-r) Cathy Bassett, Mountaire director of communications; Drew DiFonzo of TKO Hospitality; Jim Murphy, American Heart Association’s executive director for Delaware; and Ben and Sarah Collins, outgoing co-chairs for the Southern Delaware Heart Walk.
Bill Silva, a heart transplant recipient, speaks about what the American Heart Association means to him. It’s his fourth Southern Delaware Heart Walk since receiving his heart.
Heart recipient Bill Silva gets a hug from his daughter Michela, who is going to college to work in the medical field.
Carleigh McGreevy, 5 1/2, has a good seat for the event.
The Bayhealth group poses for a picture before the walk.
The County Bank group gets together for a pre-walk picture.
The torch for the Southern Delaware Heart Walk has been passed to a new chair. Shown are (l-r) new Chair Drew DiFonzo, and former co-chairs Ben and Sarah Collins, and their children Elliott and Crosby.
Southern Delaware Heart Walk co-chairs Ben and Sarah Collins speak to the crowd gathered for the event.
Presenting a check for $26,000 to the American Heart Association of Delaware from TKo Hospitality are (l-r) Drew DiFonzo, vice president of operations for TKo Hospitality; Jim Murphy, executive director for the American Heart Association of Delaware; and walk co-chairs Ben and Sarah Collins.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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