TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - October 17, 2009 saw dozens of Florida State University College of Business faculty, staff and students congregated at Tom Brown Park to take steps towards a cure for heart disease at the 2009 Big Bend Start! Heart Walk.

Benefitting the American Heart Association (AHA), the Heart Walk brings communities together to raise funds for research, education and treatment aimed at bringing an end to heart disease, the nation's No. 1 killer. This nationwide fundraising effort brings more than one million people together in 450 events.

Whether walking for fun or in memory of a loved one, the FSU team members led the pack raising nearly $13,000 for the AHA. The College of Business' walkers proudly raised more than $6,000 -- nearly half of the money raised by the entire university.

The College of Business' Heart Walk team included representatives from numerous organizations including: the Dean's Office, ALPFA-NHBA, Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi, Betty's Crew, Delta Sigma Pi, Eta Sigma Delta!, the Financial Management Association, the Florida Lodging Association, the Florida Restaurant Association, FSU IBA, the Insurance Society at FSU (ISFSU), the Minority Business Society, the National Association of Black Accountants, the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality, the Real Estate Society, SIFE, the Student Leadership Council and Women in Business.

"Each year brings more and more students, faculty and staff from the College of Business, and the university, together to support the efforts of the AHA," said Caryn L. Beck-Dudley, dean of the college. "I know we all feel honored to participate in such an important effort to save lives."

To learn more about the AHA please visit http://www.americanheart.org/.

About the FSU College of Business

Founded in 1950, the FSU College of Business is one of the nation's youngest business schools, yet it has become one of the 10 largest in the United States. It is the second largest academic unit on FSU's campus with an enrollment of 6,107 students and boasts a distinguished full-time faculty of 100, including one Francis Eppes professor, eight eminent scholar chairs, three university-named professorships and 26 endowed professorships. For more information, please visit www.cob.fsu.edu.