DECATUR - Leon Langhauser's doctor found a different sound than normal last year in his heart during an annual physical exam.
Prior to that, Langhauser had not shown any signs of heart disease, but after more tests and a visit to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Langhauser ended up having open-heart surgery.
He came back to rehab in Decatur and has recovered. He said it shows the importance of having tests done.
"I was in very good physical shape," Langhauser said. "It was to my advantage to get it done while I'm in better physical shape."
Langhauser was one of the participants in the Macon County Heart Walk on Saturday morning at Nelson Park. The event helped to raise money for the American Heart Association.
Langhauser's wife, Gigi, was the top walker, raising about $12,000 in donations. She finds it an important cause to participate in.
"The heart is our main organ," Gigi Langhauser said. "If we don't take care of ourselves, we're in bad shape. A lot of people are doing more reading about it and exercise. We need to watch ourselves carefully."
The walkers took off for various lengths through the park and along the lakefront, following a program at the Nelson Park Pavilion. The program featured free health screenings, food, balloon art and other activities for children and an awards presentation.
A thunderstorm earlier in the morning made the ground wet, but that wasn't enough to slow the hundreds of walkers.
The event has grown over the years, and it was great to see the turnout, said Kevin Kast, St. Mary's Hospital CEO and event chairman. The Prairie Heart Institute also took part in sponsoring the walk.
"Almost every family has heart disease or is otherwise impacted by it," Kast said. "Decatur's major companies are here to promote the event."
Kast credited several businesses in town for helping to put together teams of walkers. Doing so helps benefit the companies, Kast said.
"Employees are their No. 1 asset, so it helps to reduce their costs," Kast said.
The Heart Walk isn't the only fundraiser for the American Heart Association that St. Mary's is presenting this spring. The Decatur Heart Ball will be May 14 at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel.
Kast said the walk and others like it are intended to help change the fact that heart disease is the country's leading cause of death. Stroke is the third most common cause, he said.
"We want to raise awareness of that fact and reduce the incidences," Kast said.
Regular exercise can help reduce obesity, which Kast said is a leading contributor to heart disease.
Event co-chairwoman Karla Miller said it was important to have teams participate from outside the medical fields. All the groups that were organized helped, she said.
"For so many people to step up like that, it makes one huge difference," Miller said. "It does affect everyone. I hope the money we raise will someday help my kids and their families."
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