One thousand hearty souls will brave the snow and cold Saturday for the cause of heart health.

The 16^th Annual Steve Cullen Healthy Heart Club Run & Walk will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Wil-O-Way Recreation Center, 10602 Underwood Parkway in Wauwatosa.

The event supports heart research at the internationally recognized Cardiovascular Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin, in which more than 170 faculty physicians and research scientists study the causes, prevention and treatment of heart disease. 

The Cullen Run/Walk is an 8-kilometer USA Track and Field (USATF) competitive run and a 2-mile fun run/walk along the scenic Underwood Parkway.

Sponsored by the Cullen family and the Badgerland Striders, the event includes famous Cullen Family & Friends Chili, refreshments, food, exercise fitness consultants, an awards ceremony and live music for the entire family.

The event is held in memory of Steve Cullen, a former Milwaukee alderman, who died in 1995 at age 40 of sudden cardiac arrhythmia. His father, at age 41, and two brothers, ages 53 and 51, also died of heart disease.

The Cullen Run/Walk has grown in attendance by over 500% since its inception and will have nearly 1,000 participants.  The event has raised more than $300,000 for cardiovascular research and awareness.