The American Heart Association invites workplaces, community groups, friends and family from across the Lehigh Valley to lace up their sneakers and register now for the 2016 Lehigh Valley Heart Walk, to be held Sept. 18 at its new location, Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom.

Registration begins 8 a.m. and the walk steps off 9 a.m.

The Heart Walk is a family-friendly event to promote the importance of physical activity for heart health and raise funds to support the American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers.

This year’s event will give attendees the opportunity to walk a noncompetitive 2-mile route around Dorney Park.

The event also features vendors, health information and screenings, CPR demonstrations, team photos, healthy snacks and activities for kids.

The annual Lifestyle Change Award, recognizing a Heart Walk participant who has made a significant effort to improve his or her heart health through healthy lifestyle changes will be presented.

The combined fundraising goal for the 2016 Lehigh Valley Heart Walk and Berks County Heart Walk, set for Sept. 25 at Gring’s Mill Recreation Area in Reading, is $325,000.

Walkers who raise a minimum of $100 will receive a Heart Walk T-shirt and the opportunity to receive additional prizes based on their fundraising levels.

Dollars raised by the American Heart Association through events like the Heart Walk fund cardiovascular disease and stroke research, as well as public and professional programs and advocacy.

The American Heart Association’s 2020 Impact Goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent by the year 2020.

The Heart Walk is sponsored nationally by Subway and sponsored locally by Easton Hospital.

Additional support is provided by General Supply Company, Lehigh Valley Health Network, HealthSouth Reading Rehabilitation Hospital, Air Products and Chemicals, Lutron Electronics, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of American, B. Braun Medical Inc., Lafayette Ambassador Bank, FLSmidth and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital.

For more information about 2016 Lehigh Valley Heart Walk, visit heart.org/lehighberkswalk or call 614-396-3503.