(Photo by Kristen Hainkel) Baylor Kupfner, 3, left, had heart surgery at just 9 weeks old. He smiles with his cousin Riggins Leasure, 3. right.

PARKERSBURG — The impending storm clouds didn’t stop approximately 150 participants from flocking to City Park Thursday evening.

The Mid-Ohio Valley Heart Walk started at 5 p.m. with registration, fun activities in the Kid Zone and the Pup Parade to showcase four legged friends.

One person was Jeryl Smith, who was dogsitting Max, a Boston Terrier, while owner Dale Wigal is recovering from surgery. She was there in support of her coworker, Lindsay Kupfner, and her son, Baylor, who had heart surgery at 9 weeks old.

“This is the second year we’ve been here,” Kupfner said. “Next year I’m going to be the chair of the race.”

Amanda Sosebee, development director for the American Heart Association, estimated the event raised approximately $35,000 for the AHA.

(Photo by Kristen Hainkel) Laykn Wynn, 8, of Parkersburg, examines the Jenga blocks at the Kid Zone during the Mid-Ohio Valley Heart Walk.

Kupfner said between her personal team for Baylor and her mother’s business, Precious Angels Early Learning Center, they raised around $1,400 of the total.

Sosebee said she was glad to see the turnout.

“It’s important to raise community awareness of healthy lifestyle choices. Heart attack and stroke are the number one and number five killers in the United States,” she said.

One local resident, Kathia Halpert, has attended Heart Walks for over 16 years, after her heart surgery in March 2007.

“I had open heart surgery in March 2007,” she said, “I have a 28 millimeter ring in my microvalve,”

(Photo by Kristen Hainkel)Jeryl Smith walks Max, a Boston Terrier, as a part of dog sitting for Dale and Julie Wigal.

While she said the surgery was successful, it wasn’t without obstacles. She’s had five cardioversions, which regulate one’s fast heartbeat by electricity or drugs. She said she still has atrial fibrillation to this day. Regardless, she said she’s happy about her prognosis.

“I take each day as it comes. I’ve watched my family multiply. Now I have grandchildren and great grandchildren,” she said.

(Photo by Kristen Hainkel) A dancing heart entertains the walkers as they begin their lap at the Mid-Ohio Valley Heart Walk.

(Photo by Kristen Hainkel) Walkers proceed to the starting line at the Mid-Ohio Valley Heart Walk.