Topeka (WIBW) - The American Heart Association is getting the community fired up to take strides in the fight against heart disease.

The group held a kick off lunch Friday at the Holiday Inn Holidome for the upcoming Heart Walk.

The event gets leaders of corporate and family teams together to go over fundraising materials and strategies for gaining donations.

They also heard eight-year old Tanner Brown's story of overcoming a congenital heart defect and how money raised is important to people of all ages. AHA's Kim Williams says heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women, while stroke is number three. The money raised goes to education people on ways to prevent heart disease and stroke. It also funds research into new treatments and cures.

The Heart Walk takes place September 25th at Lake Shawnee.