Meet Catherine!

Catherine Kolkmeier is a great volunteer!

What brought you to be an advocate for the American Heart Association?

As a spokesperson for this group, I was invited by the AHA to advocate for Safe Routes to School in Washington, D.C., with our state’s national legislators.  From that experience, I was invited to join the advocacy team in Madison and have been involved ever since.

What issues or policies are you most passionate about and why?

I am most passionate about policies that make it easier for people to live healthier.  Knowing that newborns are being tested for heart defects or that high school students are receiving CPR training, or knowing that those entrusted with our health and safety are receiving the training needed to do their jobs well assures me that we all have an opportunity Part of my job is working with local coalitions dedicated to health improvement, and one of these, the Healthy Living Coalition in La Crosse, Wisconsin, had Safe Routes to School as one of their issues.  for a healthier life.

What is your favorite advocacy memory or experience so far and what made it great?

Seeing the bipartisan support as well as the community support for the CPR in Schools bill was encouraging to me because it leveraged many different organizations, public and private funding, and creative ideas so that all schools will have the ability to train their students in this important life skill.

What is your favorite way to be active?

I enjoy riding my bike on the trail system in La Crosse.  We have an extensive system of City, County, State, and local trails that connect through our marsh, blufflands, and riverside areas.  It’s a beautiful place to live, and the trails are one of the best ways to experience it.

What is your favorite fruit or vegetable?

I spent much of my life in the South, and nothing is better than a ripe peach!