"The Start! Waccamaw Area Heart Walk," the area's annual awareness event sponsored by the American Heart Walk Association, will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Market Common Valor Park Memorial Garden in Myrtle Beach. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Coastal Carolina University has more than 30 different teams participating in the event. University students, faculty and staff members are encouraged to sign up for a team. Online registration is at www.startwaccamawsc.org (Click on Coastal Carolina University in the right-hand column). University President David A. DeCenzo is chairman of this year's event.

The event, designed to raise funds to fight the nation's number one and number three killer -- heart disease and stroke -- will promote awareness of healthy lifestyles in Horry County.

For more information, contact Ryan Hannan, American Heart Associate senior director of corporate relations, at 843-282-2903.