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If you build it, they will come 鈥� this often quoted phrase from Field of Dreams inspires hope that with the right foundation, success will follow.聽But while this聽reasoning might work in Kevin Costner films, it falls short of the plate when it comes to preventative health care.

鈥淓veryone knows prevention is the best medicine,鈥� says Nick Giacomantonio, director of the QEII鈥檚 Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre and associate professor at 色妹妹直播 Medical School. 鈥淭he field鈥檚 been built so to speak, we have the knowledge but the spark to act is not there. In the movie, those dead baseball players had passion, but getting people passionate about preventing heart and vascular disease is a little tougher.鈥�

Dr. Giacomantonio didn鈥檛 build a baseball diamond in a cornfield, but he did establish the Nova Scotia HeartLand Tour, a public awareness campaign and province-wide bike tour to promote the message of prevention. The tour brings together more than 20 doctors, med students and recovering patients for an eight-stop, 1,000-kilometre bike ride from Yarmouth to Sydney.聽 Each of the stops focuses on creating an interdisciplinary approach to prevention and includes a bike ride and public address.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really grown since 2007,鈥� says Dr. Giacomantonio. 鈥淪ome communities have really embraced the idea, which is great. It was always my goal to have communities make it their own.鈥�

Heart and vascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in Nova Scotia, but can be prevented by knowing your risk factors and leading a healthy lifestyle. But even after patients are diagnosed or have undergone surgery, getting people motivated to make lasting lifestyle changes is a hard sell.

鈥淲e see repeat offenders all the time,鈥� says Dr. Giacomantonio. 鈥淧eople can undergo surgery to unblock an artery and be home in 72 hours, but what have they learned?鈥�

For tour participants Ruth Saulnier and her husband Mike, though, the聽message has been heard, loudly and clearly.

Coming to a town near you... The 2009 Nova Scotia Heartland Tour will have various fun and informative events planned for each stop, including bike rides for every age and skill. July 12: Yarmouth July 13: Wolfville July 14: Bridgewater July 15: Truro July 16: Sydney July 17: Antigonish July 18: Pictou/New Glasgow July 19: Halifax For more local information, including times, schedule of events, directions, and routes visit the .

鈥淢y husband had a heart attack when he was 28,鈥� explains Mrs. Saulnier, a participant from Digby County. 鈥淚t was a real eye opener because we had two small children at the time. We knew our lifestyle had to change.鈥�

The Saulniers began eating healthy and exercising, taking up cycling in 2005. Both have participated in the HeartLand Tour for the past two years, but this will be their first time completing all eight legs of the journey鈥攁n impressive feat considering Mrs. Saulnier was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2008 and had a pacemaker implanted seven months ago.

鈥淭he message of prevention is so important,鈥� says Mrs. Saulnier. 鈥淚f we can help encourage someone to make that change in their life we鈥檙e happy to do it.鈥�

Although the long hours of training cut into the time they鈥檝e be able to spend with their two sons, the Saulnier鈥檚 believe the healthy example they set will make a difference in the long-term health of their boys. Dr. Giacomantonio agrees.

鈥淭he bottom-up approach always works best,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he HeartLand Tour is not a fundraiser to help throw more money at the problem; we鈥檙e trying to increase the desire of communities and people to help themselves.鈥澛犅�

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