Hundreds of Rutherford County residents will take steps to beat the No. 1 killer this Sunday the 30th at the American Heart Association’s Rutherford Heart Walk at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, expected to be the largest one in the event’s history.

News2’s Dawn Davenport will emcee the event.

The Heart Walk nationwide is the biggest single fundraiser for the American Heart Association to fight heart disease and stroke, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and a leading killer of children. The Rutherford event is a non-competitive walk with teams of employees from many Rutherford County companies, community teams, and friends and family members of all ages. The walk raises money for vital research, education and community programs.

Walkers are invited to come dressed in their Halloween finest. Heart Walk festivities start at 1 p.m. and the walk itself starts at 3. To learn more, visit rutherfordheartwalk.org.

Funds raised for the Heart Walk help put up-to-the-minute research into doctors’ hands so they can better prevent and treat heart disease among patients; fund groundbreaking pediatric heart and stroke research; help hospitals establish best practice treatment guidelines; and get life-saving information to those who need it most, such as how make lifestyle choices to prevent cardiovascular disease, how to recognize the warning signs of heart attack or stroke, and how to talk to a doctor about critical health choices. Funds raised for research have helped lead to such critical treatment advances as stents and CPR. Funds also support public initiatives such as CPR classes for Murfreesboro school students, and healthy lunches and physical activity for all Tennessee schools. All of these programs are dependent on donations.

Rutherford Heart Walk sponsor is MTMC. This year’s honoree is Bart Walker of WGNS.
 
Festivities include more than a dozen tents and specialized areas, featuring:
- Kids’ Zone activity area
- Health screenings for free
- Fitness area
- Lifestyle Change area
- Nutrition area
- Red Cap area, where heart disease and stroke survivors can share their stories and get a Red Cap as a badge of honor
- Survivor tribute and memorial areas

There will be giveaways throughout the festival area. Dogs on leashes are welcome. Light snack food will be available before the Walk.