The annual River City Start! Heart Walk is calling all walkers to the RiverFront Park on Saturday morning to benefit the American Heart Association.

If you go

River City Heart Walk will take place Saturday at the RiverFront Park on Washington Street. Registration is at 8:30 a.m., and the walk begins at 9. Children’s activities and health screenings will be available at each pavilion. Fruit and water will be available. For more information, call 662-616-6863 or visit www.rivercityheartwalk.kintera.org. The 6th Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be Friday at  Vicksburg Country Club, 127 Country Club Lane. For more information or to sign up, call 601-636-4545.

The three-mile walk will lap around the park, and children’s activities and health screenings will be available at each pavilion.

The walk is noncompetitive and there are no registration fees.

Light drizzle at last year’s walk did not dampen the event.

“Brisk walking for as little as 30 minutes a day has proven health benefits, such as providing increased energy and circulation, as well as reduced risk of heart disease,” said Gay Smith, special events coordinator for the American Heart & Stroke Association.

“The Start! Heart Walk is designed to help participants understand this critical message, join with others and generate a renewed commitment to heart-healthy living through walking.”

Area businesses will sponsor booths at pavilions for walkers to pick up health tips and have health screenings, while a local DJ entertains the crowd.

Smith said organizers are expecting a turnout of 250 to 300 people.

“Our hope is that the Start! Heart Walk will help jump- start a culture of physical activity among participants and increase passion for supporting the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association,” said Lynda Edwards, regional director for the AHA.

In addition to the heart walk, the AHA is sponsoring the third annual National Start! Walking Day on April 8 where everyone across the country is encouraged to get up and start walking; walking can be done anywhere.

According to the AHA, walking at least 30 minutes a day will help improve muscle tone and strength and reduce stress and anxiety.

This weight-loss promotion also lowers cholesterol, tri-

glycerides and blood pressure.

AHA research has found that lack of physical activity is the leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

“Heart disease affects a person every 38 seconds,” said Smith.

The national walk day is encouraging people to make walking a daily exercise routine, where just an hour of exercising extends two more hours of our lives, according to the AHA research.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women over 25 and the AHA is working to raising awareness among women in their “Go Red for Women” campaign since 2004.

According to the AHA, one out of three women die from heart disease, stroke or other cardiovascular diseases.

To combat the issue, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the HEART for Women Act in September.

The act aims to improve the quality of heart disease care that women receive.

The AHA has developed programs and campaigns to tackle the heart disease issues we face today such as childhood obesity, stroke prevention, Start! program improving physical activity, emergency cardiovascular care and improving patient care.

Besides walking, people should engage in all types of physical activities.

The Employees of the City of Vicksburg will host the 6th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Friday at the Vicksburg Country Club.

Walkers can begin their physical activities weekend early by participating in the golf tournament. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit the AHA.

Foursomes will compete in a “scramble” and anyone can sign up.

For more information or to sign up, call 601-636-4555.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchanprasith@vicksburgpost.com.