By JANET McGREGOR
Contributing Writer

A large contingency of Fayette Countians will be walking in the American Heart Association's Heart Walk Nov. 7. This year the Fayette County team representation will be the highest ever. Over 27 teams of 10 to 25 walkers have been raising money to help fight heart disease and stroke.

Team members have a special incentive this year — those who raise $1,000 or more for the AHA will be given a four-day cruise for two to the Bahamas. Team captains will receive trips if their teams double the goals they set when they were formed. Those winning a cruise can choose from one of three cruise lines, Royal Caribbean, Carnival or The Big Red Boat and can sail from either Port Canaveral or Miami.

This year, J.D. Holmes agreed to be the chairman for the Fayette County Heart Walk effort. He recruited a number of vice chairmen — Marie Schlosser, Ron Duffey, Janet McGregor, Paul Oddo, Jim Daughtry and Jim Watkins — to assist in getting volunteers to walk. While the final results will not be known until after the Heart Walk, thus far thousands of dollars have been raised in Fayette County for the AHA.

Cooper Lighting not only has teams, but has made a corporate donation for to the Fayette County Heart Association. To raise money, volunteers are doing some unusual things.

Gold's Gym hosted a Heart of Gold Golf Tournament to raise money. One local newspaper is recognizing donations in its pages. One group held a car wash. Others are selling red and gold hearts for donations. Many are doing their fund-raising the “old-fashioned” way — they are asking for money. Two teams “teamed up” and hosted a yard sale, raising over $600 for the walk.

Local civic groups have made donations. The Metro Kiwanis recently presented the board a check for $700.

The Peachtree City Kiwanians will be making an annual donation in the near future.

A number of businesses are unable to participate in the Heart Walk but are raising money for the Heart Association in other ways. The Have-a-Heart fund-raiser is one that can be done at any time of the year, but typically the Fayette Board combines it with its two main fund-raising efforts, the Heart Walk and the Celebrity Celebration.

The Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center, SouthTrust Bank, the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites are a few who have opted to sell the red and gold hearts in October. The hearts are sold for various amounts, usually $1 for the red hearts and $5 or more for the gold hearts. The hearts are posted on walls, counters or some other visible place through the duration of the promotion.

Peachtree National Bank plans to have at least one team of walkers. Ron Duffey, president and CEO, is actively supporting the efforts of the Heart Association. Duffey and the bank have long been supporters of the Heart Association.

However, when Duffey suffered a heart attack in March of this year, the importance of the AHA became personal. Duffey worked out regularly prior to the attack, was not overweight, did not drink heavily, and was not a smoker. Heredity was a major factor in Duffey's heart attack.

Duffey noted, “One of the first things I did after my heart attack was find out how to go about making a contribution to the American Heart Association. They provided me and my wife with a lot of good information after the attack.”

To help raise money for the Heart Walk, the bank had a casual day in which employees paid for the privilege of wearing jeans and T-shirts.

If you would like to walk Nov. 7, phone J.D. Holmes at 770-631-9258 or one of the team captains listed below.

Those raising $100 will receive a t-shirt. Other prizes, including luggage, watches, cameras, will be given based on the amount raised.

Heart Walk info–

• Sunday, Nov. 7. at Turner Field

• Registration begins at 11:30 a.m.

•The Walk begins at 2 p.m.

• The Fayette County teams will meet at 11:30 a.m. at Gold's Gym Peachtree City (corner of Hwy. 74 and

Aberdeen Parkway) to car pool to the walk. There will be a tent for the Fayette County teams at Turner Field.

• Those walking are asked to bring a snack to share with other Fayette County walkers.

• For information call J.D. Holmes at 770-631-9258.

Teams and team captains:

Fayette County Republican Party - Eric Dial

Small Business Council of the Chamber of Commerce - Janet McGregor

Small Business Council of the Chamber of Commerce - Rosemarie Beebe

The Fayette Daily News - Athena Hamlin

Gold's Gym Peachtree City (two teams) - Deborah Bonner

Gold's Gym Fayette - Steve Clarke

Fayette Community Hospital - Ryan Duffy

Cooper Lighting - Eve Gray

SouthTrust Banks - Ann McClellan

Coweta-Fayette EMC - Michele Turner

Pathway Communities - Sandra Prince

Fayette County Board of Education - Carolyn Bell

Fayette County Board of Education - Becky Wilder

Fayette County Board of Education - Diane Lester

Fayette County Board of Education - Sandy Laffan

Fayette County Board of Education - Jeri Drake

Hoshizaki - Pat Confer

Fayette Medical - Ellen Nichols

Goody Products - Darlene Porter

Peachtree National Bank - Eileen Kemp

PowerTel - Kristy Price

Regions Bnk - Brian Featherston

VoxCom - Amy McRee

Noble Investments - Glenn Winselett

Paul Oddo CPA - Paul Oddo

Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center - Susan Beckworth, Darlene Espinosa

Fayette Family Fitness (now Impact) - Ron Shaw

Rotary Club of Peachtree City - Jim Watkins

Seimens - Lindsay Harrelston

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