The American Heart Association’s Rutherford Heart Walk and Fun Run will take place at Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital on Saturday, September 14, 2013. This all-ages event is free and open to the entire community. Fundraising is highly encouraged. Teams can sign up and set fundraising goals at www.rutherfordheartwalk.org. People can go on the site and join any team, and do individual fundraising. There is no registration fee.

The annual event is a major fundraiser for the American Heart Association, and funds go to vital research, public health programs and community education about the no. 1 and No. 4 killers of Americans, heart disease and stroke. This year’s fundraising goal is $100,000. 

The non-competitive Fun Run starts at 8:25 a.m., and the Walk start time is 8:30. After the Walk, a festival will take place from 9 to 11, featuring family-friendly interactive games, music, displays and activities (and Fido on a leash is welcome!).

Left Photo: This pretty much sums up why the Heart Walk is so important. Be a part of the walk to honor a close relative or friend--or perhaps YOU are a "heart" survivor!

David Hoke, president of The Hoke Company, is chair of the event, and Heart Walk honoree is Sandra Miller, General Manager of the DoubleTree Hotel in Murfreesboro and a stroke survivor.

The Heart Walk is part of the American Heart Association’s My Heart. My Life. platform, encouraging Americans to get physically active and eat a healthy diet as steps toward a heart-healthy lifestyle and improved health of the community. Heart disease and stroke take the lives of 1 in 3 Americans, including 17,000 Tennesseans per year. But up to 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable through healthy living choices we make every day.

WGNS salutes "Rutherford County My Heart. My Life", which is the cause sponsor along with Saint Thomas Heart  Rutherford Hospital for protecting our community and helping make this event possible.