The face of this year’s annual Four-State Heart Walk is Lauren Harper, a two year old who has been challenged with terrible odds and survived.

She was a triplet born prematurely on May 17, 2011, at 31 weeks and weighing only 2 pounds, 2 ounces.

Harper was born with a condition known as coarctation of the aorta (narrowing of a major artery).

Before Harper was released from the hospital, she received a pacemaker at the age of six months. She has had three heart surgeries in total.

The Four States Heart Walk is a fundraiser for the American Heart Association to help continue the research for heart disease. Karl Schmidt, regional director of the American Heart Association says that not only is heart disease the number one killer of men and women, but it also affects children.

“Cardiovascular disease is the number one birth defect in children,” he said.

This year’s event is expected to be much more successful than last year’s event, which raised approximately $28,000. So far for this year, donations are over $35,000 and are expected to reach a goal of $50,000.

Schmidt went on to say that it is important to focus the fundraiser to more than just the Joplin area.

“We really want to make this a community event. It is the four-state’s area walk, and just because it happens in Joplin, it is not the Joplin heart walk,” he said.

This year’s annual Four State Heart Walk will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28, with festivities starting at 9 a.m. It is expected to be the biggest grossing year so far.

Visit 4statesheartwalk.or to learn how to get involved.