MURFREESBORO, Tenn., April 6 -- Middle Tennessee State University issued the following news release:

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The American Heart Association is gearing up for its annual, signature Rutherford County Heart Walk, and Chandra Story, Middle Tennessee State University professor and association board member, is encouraging the community to take heart and do their part to get active and raise funds for heart-health education and research.

"Heart disease is still the leading cause of death in this country," said Story, a public health professor. "Almost all of us are touched by heart disease in some way. Maybe it is a family member or friend. This is an opportunity, in alignment with our True Blue Pledge, to be a valuable member and ...