NATCHEZ &045;&045; Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in this country but residents of the Miss-Lou will band together Saturday, walking as one, toward a cure.

This year’s walk is in memory of posterchild and Natchez resident Kyle Hutchins, who died Sept. 2.

The fourth annual Miss-Lou American Heart Walk starts Saturday morning at 8 a.m. at Main Street Marketplace. The day will actually begin with a 5K run, immediately followed by the walk.

But Stewart said walkers and runners should arrive around 7:30 a.m.

Walkers raised money to work toward a $50,000 goal, and Heart walk chairwoman Kristie Stewart said Thursday, it has been &uot;well exceeded.&uot;

Business sponsorships along brought in $22,000.

The money will be turned into the national organization to fund education, research and technology, Stewart said.

Hutchins had pulmonary hypertension, a disease that has no cure, but, Stewart said, hopefully this money can help find a cure.

&uot;Many, many donations have been turned in in memory of Kyle Hutchins, and we know he will hear us on this day celebrating,&uot; Stewart said.

The day will not only be for walking but also for fun. There will be a silent auction of a chaise lounger donated by Breckenridge Furniture, a mirror donated by National Furniture, a perfume basket donated by McRae’s and a restaurant package of gift certificates from 10 different restaurants.

Also, there will be a T-shirt contest for each team’s original design.

For the children, there will be a spacewalk and face painting.

Stewart said this event is important to &uot;act as a community, to help raise dollars to save lives of people of yesterday, today and tomorrow.&uot;

Not only have individuals raised funds for the cause, but many local businesses have contributed as well.

Natchez Community Hospital, Natchez Regional Medical Center, Isle of Capri, United Mississippi Bank, Britton and Koontz Bank, Southwest Distributors, the Markets, Sta-home health, the Natchez Democrat, St. Dominics and Natchez Ford are all corporate sponsors.

But, most of all, &uot;the most important thing will be to come support the Hutchins family, to show support for Kyle,&uot; Stewart said.