RUMFORD – Rumford Hospital is spearheading an effort to have area people in the annual American Heart Association Central and Western Maine Heart Walk in Lewiston on Sunday, Sept. 25.

The Heart Walk celebrates survivors of heart disease and stroke and encourages walking and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. The walk raises money for research and outreach and awareness about the prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S. Heart defects are the number one birth defect in this country. Heart disease kills more people than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer, chronic respiratory disease, accidents, diabetes and flu/pneumonia.

So far Franklin Savings Bank, Hannaford, Med-Care, New Page, River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, Rumford Community Home, Rumford Hospital and Swift River Health Care have organized teams to gather pledges and walk.

There will be a separate walk for heart disease and stroke survivors that day. Rumford Hospital Cardiac Rehab Manager Deborah Gorham, is organizing the survivor team. Survivors who want to participate should call her at 369-1136.

The Central and Western Maine Heart Walk offers walkers three courses of one, two and four miles. There will be a bus from Rumford Hospital for walkers who don’t wish to drive their own vehicles. Registration and breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. at Montello School in Lewiston. The walk will begin at 9. A free lunch following the walk will be provided.

Organizations that would like to field a team, individuals who would like to walk or anyone who would like to give a gift to support the walk should call Jane Bubar, Rumford Hospital community relations, at 369-1143.