As the 2011 Pike County Heart Walk enters its final two weeks, neighborhood teams are working hard to make this year’s fundraising campaign for the American Heart Association the most successful in recent years.

Ed Barnett and Beth Butler are team captains for their neighborhoods, Barnett for the Heritage Ridge neighborhood and Butler for the Lawson Drive neighborhood.

“We have nearly 60 families in Heritage Ridge and we have been participating in the Pike County Heart Walk for five years,” Barnett said. “When I was approached about leading a team, I went to the Homeowners Association board and they gave their approval. Each year, about half of the families participate, making it a successful campaign for our team.”

Barnett said he mails letters to his neighbors with the information about the Heart Walk and how the donations are used to fund research into the causes and treatments of heart disease and stroke, the number one killers of Americans.

“One year, I went door-to-door but decided to use the mail-out approach and it has been very successful,” he said. “The last two years, our neighborhood team has contributed more than $900 to the Pike County Heart Walk. This year, we are hoping to raise $1,000.”

Expectations are also high for Beth Butler and the Lawson Drive residents.

“We have a smaller neighborhood but our families are very supportive of the Pike County Heart Walk,” Butler said. “This is the third year that we have participated and last year our team contributed $519 to the campaign.”

Butler said that she, too, uses mail outs to contact her neighbors.

In 2010, there were two neighborhood teams. This year there are four.

“The Heart Walk is such a good cause and it’s a good way for neighborhoods to stay connected and working for a common cause,” Butler said.

The Pike County Heart Walk will be at 5 p.m. Feb. 17 at Cattleman Park. The event will include the Heart Walk, entertainment and heart-healthy snacks.

Last year, the Pike County Heart Walk raised $26,000 for the American Heart Association.

No monetary goal has been set for this year but the campaign seeks to raise as much money as possible in the fight against heart disease and stroke.

“There is still time for other neighborhoods to join the campaign and we encourage them to do so,” Barnett said. “It doesn’t take a lot of time, just making a few contacts and letting your neighbors know how important the Heart Walk campaign is. I don’t know of many families whose lives have not been affected by heart disease or stroke.”

For more information or to register a team, call Gene O’Masta at 566-1392.