The FMU campus will once again be hosting the annual Pee Dee Heart Walk on Oct. 29, with all proceeds going towards funding the research and education efforts of the American Heart Association (AHA).

Activities begin at 8:30 a.m., and the walk takes place from 10 a.m. to noon. Participation is free, but each walker is asked to raise money from friends, family and coworkers. The goal for the 2011 Pee Dee Heart Walk is $375,000. Walkers are eligible for a Start! Heart Walk t-shirt once they have raised a minimum of $100.

Vice President for Public and Community Affairs Darryl Bridges sees this annual event as a major message from the community to the university.

“FMU holds a position of prominence within the region,” Bridges said. “Holding events like the Heart Walk speaks highly of the university.”

Bridges also said that FMU likes to accommodate events that make a difference in the community.

FMU Assistant Dean of Students LaTasha Brand has been working closely with the Vice President for Student Affairs, Teresa Ramey, to raise awareness of the event around the campus.

“FMU will continue to create a buzz about the Heart Walk because we are not just concerned about the health and welfare of the students on campus,” Brand said. “We are concerned about the community at large. We just want to make a difference and let others know that we care.”

Both the Housing Office of FMU and the Student Government Association will be involved in the Heart Walk, and other students are donating their time and effort towards the cause.

The AHA is the largest voluntary health organization working to prevent, treat and defeat heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases are especially prevalent in the Pee Dee due to high physical inactivity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, hypertension and high cholesterol.