Walkers raise more than $200,000 for American Heart Association.

As Cheryl Track was moving with a mass of walkers at Nathan Benderson Park on Sept. 10 during the American Heart Association's Suncoast Heart Walk, she wasn't about to complain about the heat.

She was walking for a cause.

Track said she had been touched by the story about a girl in her church, 15-year-old McLain Miller, who has been battling a congenital heart disease since shortly after she was born.

"I've been a proud supporter and participant on "Team McLain" for several years now," said Track, who walks with other members of the First Presbyterian Church in Bradenton. "I always look forward to walking. I like that it promotes physical activity and healthy living. It's a good way to get the whole family moving."

Plenty of family members were mixed among the estimated crowd of 1,700, which showed up to raise awareness of heart disease, stroke and any kind of cardiovascular disease. 

The American Heart Association's Lily Conrad was pleased by the turnout.

"We're celebrating life, the medical advancements that have been made, survivors, and people who have died from heart disease and strokes," Conrad said.

More than $202,000 had been raised Sept. 10 and more donations were expected to accumulate for the next week. The money is distributed toward research, advocacy and to help members of the community.