RUMFORD – For the past three years, Rumford organizations have been forming teams and traveling to Lewiston to participate in the annual Heart Walk to raises funds for the American Heart Association.

This year, for the first time, a “satellite” of the Lewiston-based Central and Western Maine Heart Walk will be held in Rumford.

A kick-off meeting was held July 15 for team captains and prospective walking organizations. Soon area businesses will receive letters from the walk committee asking for sponsorships and/or in-kind services and goods for the walk.

Organizations already forming teams and their captains are Community Energy, Rose Marie Woods; Dead River, Gary Haines; Dixfield Discount Fuel, Cheryl Holman; Franklin Savings Bank, Linda Westleigh; Med-Care Ambulance, Laurieann Milligan; New Page, Kelli Carrier; Oxford County Mental Health Services, Pam Miller and Karen Hodgkins; Oxford Federal Credit Union, Cindy Giroux; River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, Stephanie Thompson; and Rumford Hospital, Dan Elliott and Sharon Gates.

Each team sets goals for numbers of walkers as well as money raised. There are prizes for individuals who raise more than $100, ranging from T-shirts at the minimum level to a home theater sound system for anyone who raises $10,000.

There will be a free breakfast and lunch, greetings from a heart survivor and a special ceremony for heart disease and stroke survivors, as well as one-, two- and four-mile walk routes.

Special activities are planned for youngsters. Health-related organizations are being offered space to display their goods and services at center track. Retail outlets are being offered hearts to “sell” and display.

Organizations that wish to form teams, become sponsors or sell hearts should call Bubar at 369-1143 or e-mail [email protected] or e-mail Linda Westleigh at [email protected] or Laurieann Milligan at [email protected].

Individuals may join the walk, even if their organizations do not form a team. They should call or e-mail the same addresses.