RUMFORD — Carolyn Dupuis was the winner of the Lifestyle Change Award at this year’s Rumford Heart Walk. The award is given each year to someone who has significantly improved their lifestyle to make it more heart healthy.

Dupuis, a Rumford Hospital Cardiac Rehab graduate, walks four miles a day and has completely revamped her diet. She has participated in the Heart Walk every year as a member of the Rumford Hospital team and brings along friends and co-workers.

Dupuis has been an outspoken advocate of a healthy lifestyle, influencing many friends and colleagues.

Nominations are collected from the community and reviewed by the Rumford Heart Walk Committee, which then votes on the nominees. When a nominee is not selected in one year, their nomination is considered the next year.

Numbers of walkers and total dollars raised are not yet in for this year’s Rumford Heart Walk, but just the funds delivered on Sept. 19 at the walk totaled more than $10,000, not including sponsorship monies.

Teams for the Heart Walk were Becky’s Heart Beats, Community Energy, Franklin Savings Bank, Med-Care Ambulance, Oxford Federal Credit Union, Region 9, River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, River Valley Internal Medicine, Rumford Hospital, Sykes Inc. of Wilton, Sunday River and Victorian Villa.

For more information about the Central and Western Maine Heart Walk in Rumford or to sign up to be notified of next year’s walk, call 369-1143.