The American Heart Association’s 2009 Start! Ventura County Heart Walk on Sept. 19 raised nearly $80,000, making it one of the event’s most successful fundraising years to date. This year’s walk, hosted by the Simi Valley Town Center, drew a record-breaking 400 participants.

Simi Valley Hospital provided heart health screenings at the walk and funded outreach to encourage community members to exercise and eat better.

Money raised in Ventura County is used to fund lifesaving research and educational programs aimed at reducing death and disability caused by heart disease and stroke.

The American Heart Association funds heart- and strokefocused research. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, and stroke is No. 3.

To sign up for the 2010 Start! Ventura County Heart Walk, visit www.venturaheartwalk.org.