Invitations to the Pike County American Heart Association's Survivors' Breakfast have been mailed to all known survivors of heart attacks and strokes in the area.

The breakfast will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 in the social hall of Collegedale Church of Christ.

Jim O'Neil, chairman of the event, said although the committee has attempted to identify and invite all survivors of heart disease, he is extending a special invitation to anyone who might have been missed.

&uot;We hope that every survivor of heart disease and stroke will attend,&uot; he said. &uot;It's not necessary to let us know, but we would appreciate a call for these survivors so we can get their names on the list.&uot;

However, O'Neil said it's not necessary to call. &uot;Just show up Saturday morning.&uot;

&uot;We'll have a full breakfast and it will be a very informal gathering,&uot; he said. &uot;E.M. &uot;Boy&uot; Motes will speak briefly about his experiences with heart problems. The breakfast is a time for fellowship. So, we hope everyone will be come.&uot;

Boutwell Floor Covering of Troy is the sponsor of the breakfast and O'Neil expressed appreciation to Johnny Boutwell for his support of the event.

The culminating event for Pike County Heart Association is the American Heart Walk from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 at Cattleman Park.

&uot;Our goal this year is $26,000 and we are very optimistic that the goal will be reached,&uot; O'Neil said. &uot;Heart disease and stroke are the number one killers of Americans today. And, we have more Pike County teams than ever before working to change that.&uot;

O'Neil said all money raised in Alabama for the American Heart Association stays in Alabama.

&uot;Last year a total of $2.2 million in grants was given to the University of Alabama, Auburn University and the University of South Alabama,&uot; he said. &uot;The grants were used for research projects.&uot;

The money raised through the American Heart Walk is used for research and for education of the public on how to prevent heart problems and stroke, O'Neil said.

This year, the Pike County Heart Walk will be very different from walks in previous years.

The walk will be held at night rather than on Saturday morning so more people will have an opportunity to participate.

&uot;It's going to be a big event with different activities, entertainment and good food,&uot; O'Neil said. &uot;Several young dance groups will perform and there will be booths for cholesterol screening, blood pressure check and body fat analysis. There will be no charge for these health checks and everyone can benefit from them.&uot;

Subway will provide sandwiches for the Heart Walk teams, volunteers and participants in the night's events.

For more information or to add a name to the list of heart attack and stroke survivors, call 566-2869.