The Pike County Chapter of the American Heart Associationis gearing up for Heart Awareness Month in February.
The chapter has several events planned to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke and to raise fund to combat the disease.
Otis Stone, Chapter board member, said that heart disease is the number one killer of Americans today.
“More people die for heart attacks and stroke each year than from any other disease including cancer,” Stone said. “The American Heart Association is dedicated to continuing the fight against heart disease and stroke. Research into the causes, treatment and prevention is the key to winning the fight.”
The Pike County Chapter of the American Heart Association will kick off Heart Awareness Month on Feb. 3 with “Go Red Day.”
“We will ask everyone to wear red on Feb. 3 to raise awareness of the disease,” he said. The Chapter has “Go Red” T-shirts available for sale by calling 566-7270 or from Annette Toney, Chapter president, in the Appraisal Office at the Pike County Courthouse.
The annual Pike County Heart Survivors breakfast will be at 8 a.m. on Feb. 11, in the Activities Building of First Baptist Church of Troy and all survivors of heart disease are encouraged to attend.
“The Survivors Breakfast is held each year to celebrate the victories that have been won over heart disease,” Stone said. “We send invitations to all of those whose names are on the list that we have compiled but we don’t have names of all those who have survived heart attacks or strokes. And, we want every survivor to come. They don’t have to call, just come.”
Stone said the breakfast is also for the caretakers of heart disease victims.
On Feb. 14, the Pike County Chapter of the AHA will have a bake sale on WTBF Radio beginning at 6 a.m.
The prices will be set and the items will go to the first caller.
The culminating fundraising event for the 2012 Pike County Heart Walk will be at 5:30 p.m. on Feb.  16 at Cattleman Park.
“The Heart Walk is our culminating event and everyone is invited,” Stone said. “We have Heart Walk teams that are already out raising money for this year’s fundraising campaign. But teams are still forming and we encourage everybody that wants to help raise money for the fight against heart diseases and stroke to put together a team and contact Annette Toney and get registered.”
Several neighborhoods have teams that participate each year and Stone said he encourages neighbors to join together in the fight against heart disease and stroke.
“Some people like to raise money on their own and that’s another way to help,” Stone said.
The Pike County Heart Walk is a community event and everyone is invited to participate.
“Teams and individuals will walk in honor of those who have survived heart disease and in memory of those who didn’t and to raise awareness of the heart disease,” Stone said. “We’ll have some great entertainment and good food and fellowship. It will be a fun night for our community as we celebrate a successful campaign to raise awareness of heart disease and money to fight it.”