Jordan Owens and the other kids at Heaven Sent Day Care Center might not fully understand the importance of “Go Red Day” but they know those little hearts beating inside them need to stay healthy so they can stay healthy.

That’s the message Claudette Rodgers and the teachers at Heaven Sent send to the little ones every year during the month of February, which is Heart Month.

Annette Toney, Pike County Heart Association chair, said Jordan’s design was chosen for the association’s “Go Red” T-shirts that were sported all around Troy on Friday and will be visible in the community each Friday in February.

“Seeing children involved in our awareness and fundraising campaign is encouraging because they are learning at an early age how important it is have a healthy heart,” Toney said. “That’s the message of Go Red is a national campaign directed toward women because more women in America die from heart disease than all the cancers combine. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and the Go Red for Women campaign is designed to raise money to fund research into the causes, treatment and cures of heart disease and to raise awareness of the disease and ways it can be prevented.”

Toney said the Pike County Heart Association is dedicated to bringing awareness to the importance of heart health and to raising funds in support of the fight against heart disease and stroke.

The association’s annual Survivors Breakfast will be held at 8 a.m. on Feb. 11 in the Activities Building of First Baptist Church of Troy. All survivors of heart disease and their caretakers are invited to attend.

The annual Pike County Heart Walk will be from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Cattleman Park and everyone is invited to participate.

“We have teams that are raising money in various ways to raise money for the fight against heart disease,” Toney said. “They will all participate in the Heart Walk but you don’t have to be on a team to raise money or to walk. The Heart Walk honors those who have won the battle against heart disease and in memory of those who lost their lives to the disease.”

Toney said sponsorships are a large part of the fundraising effort of the Pike County Heart Association and more churches and organizations are becoming involved in the fight.

“We appreciate all of those who support the American Heart Association through the annual Pike County Heart Walk,” Toney said. “Because awareness of heart disease is being raised and funds are being raised to fund research into heart disease and stroke, lives are being saved every day. So, what we are doing does make a difference.”