By JANET McGREGOR
Contributing Writer

Every year the Fayette County Board of the American Heart Association sets fund-raising goals and determines which fund-raisers will be held to enable them to meet their goals. The Southeast Affiliate office coordinates educational efforts in the business community and through the schools with the assistance of the local board.

In addition to Fayette Board-coordinated events, local businesses often approach the board with a desire to host their own events to raise money. In past years the Braelinn Kroger held a “yard” sale and sold root beer floats to raise money for the Heart Association. Gold's Gym this year had the first Heart of Gold Golf Tournament. The Cardiac Arrest fund-raiser is popular with some businesses and each year a business or group of businesses approaches the board to have one.

Another focus of the board is education. Because heart disease and stroke are often not as visible as other diseases, often times it does not garner the interest other diseases may. Diet, exercise and knowledge can have a major impact on the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The following are some of the fund-raisers and educational efforts of the Heart Association in Fayette County and throughout the country:

For the past few years the Fayette County American Heart Association has hosted the well-known Celebrity Celebration. In 2000, they will switch gears slightly, giving the Celebrity Celebration a rest, and host the first event to which no one will be invited. The group is still working on an appropriate name for the February fundraiser.

Jump Rope for the Heart is an educational fund-raiser. It is cosponsored by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. School-age children are engaged in physical activity, jumping rope, to raise funds to support cardiovascular research and education. Students receive thank-you prizes based on the amount of money they raise. The primary target for the fund-raiser is grades K - 5, although it can be held in middle schools through college, youth groups, through recreation departments, church groups and gyms.

Cardiac Arrests are hosted in local areas. In the past the arrests have been in Peachtree City, Fayetteville and in Tyrone. In 2000 the Fayette board will coordinate with local businesses and volunteers to host one toward the end of their fiscal year in May or June.

Heart Power is a “comprehensive and flexible supplemental school program that teaches children about heart-health and prevention of heart disease and stroke.” Local civic groups have donated money to the AHA to purchase the Heart Power kits for some of the local schools. There are five kits in the program, preK, kindergarten - grade 2, Spanish preK - grade 1, grades 3 - 5 and grades 6 - 8. Each kit contains stethoscopes, sing-along music and lyrics, a teacher resource book, posters, a video, audiocassettes and other printed educational materials.

Search Your Heart is a church-based heart and stroke health program. It is informational, interactive and fun. The program teaches and encourages congregations to watch their blood pressure, begin a physical activity program, eat heart-healthy and learn to reduce the risk of stroke. The American Heart Association provides the Search Your Heart kit at no cost.

Hoop for Heart is also co-sponsored by AAHPERD and is geared toward school age children. A series of basketball tournaments and/or contests are held to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke and to raise money to support research and prevention efforts.

Have an old car you would like to get rid of? Donate it for the “Cars for Heart” program. The program turns cars into cash for the fight against heart disease and stroke. Call 1-888-AHA-CAR1, toll free, for information or to schedule a pickup of your car. You will receive a tax credit for the market value of your car.

For information on any of the above, or to see how you can volunteer to help, call Mary O'Conner at 770-730-8440.

The Fayette County American Heart Association Board

Janet McGregor - President

Paul Yellina (Braelinn Kroger) - Vice President

Cecilia Vaughn (Occumed) - Secretary

Stuart Bennett (Fayette County School System)

Ryan Duffy (Fayette Community Hospital)

Greg Dunn (Fayette County Commissioner)

Eve Gray (Cooper Lighting)

Annie Haynes (Vox-Com)

J. D. Holmes (Gold's Gym)

Paul Oddo (GTO's Restaurant)

Dr. Charles Pettus

Marie Schlosser (The Guide)

Lane Watts (Watts Realty)

Glenn Winslett (Holiday Inn Express)

Kathy Yellina

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