The Pike County Chapter of the American Heart Association will host the 2018 Pike County Heart Walk from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 22 at the Troy Recreation Center.

The lead-up event to the chapter’s culminating event will be the Red Cap Survivors Breakfast at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Park Memorial United Methodist Church Family Life Center in Troy.

Diana Whitaker, who along with her husband, Cory, serves on the Pike County Heart Board, said the annual survivors’ breakfast honors all heart attack and stroke survivors and their caregivers. It is not necessary to pre-register for the Red Cap Survivors Breakfast.

“We hope that all heart attack and stroke survivors and their caregivers will join us for this time of celebration Saturday morning,” Whitaker said. “The board will serve a heart-health breakfast and then everyone will have the opportunity to hear our guest speaker, the former mayor of Troy Jimmy Lunsford, talk about his experience with heart disease.”

The annual Pike County Heart Walk recognizes the survivors of heart disease and stroke and celebrates their victories as well as raising funds for the continuing fight against the disease that is the number one killer of women and men in our country, Whitaker said.

“Leading up to the Heart Walk on February 22, Heart Walk teams are continuing to raise funds for this year’s campaign,” Whitaker said. “The bake sale to benefit the 2018 Pike County Heart Walk was held at the Colley Senior Complex this week and was a great success. During this last week of fundraising we hope for many more successes.”

The Pike County Heart Board encourages everyone to make plans to be a part of the Pike County Heart Walk on Thursday, February 22 and celebrate the victories won over heart disease and stroke and be a part of the fight that will not end until victory is proclaimed.