The Tryon International Equestrian Center was the venue for this year’s Heart to Heart Gala — sponsored by Unity in the Community — which took place last week Saturday. 

This event, which was made possible by a grant from the Polk County Community Foundation, proved once again to be successful, with more than 175 guests in attendance, organizers said.

Minister Leon Godlock served as the master of ceremonies, while Earl Vernon provided music.

The focus of the Heart to Heart Gala is to inform people about maintaining a healthy heart—physically, spiritually and medicinally.

Heber Najera, of Pro Health and Fitness, was the first presenter of the evening.

He spoke on “A Healthy Heart Physically.” 

Highlights of his presentation were: 

• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day per week, for five days

• Find an enjoyable way to exercise: sports, hiking, walking, swimming, biking, etc.

• Exercise to prevent some diseases

• Exercise to boost confidence

• Exercise to help fight depression

• Exercise to help to use muscles, so people will not lose strength

Minister Beverly McKinney was the presenter for “A Healthy Heart Spiritually.”

Highlights of her presentation were:

• Plague build up in the heart from a physical perspective can kill; plague build up in the spiritual heart can also kill

• Examples of plague build up spiritually are bitterness, anger and such

• It only takes one type of medicine to cure plague build up spiritually — Romans 10:9

• The antidote for plague build up is repentance, forgiveness and confession 

The next thing on program was dinner. The Rev. Arbutus Hines did the blessing of the food. All enjoy a meal prepared by the culinary staff at the TIEC.

Dr. John Mark Bennett, a family practice specialist in Forest City, North Carolina, was the keynote speaker. He presented on a “Healthy Heart” from a medicinal prospective.

Highlights of his presentation were:

• People should view their heart as if it is the only car they will ever own; people only have one heart, and one body, to take care of

• Heart disease is the leading cause of deaths, and can be prevented

• The problem with heart disease is not knowing what to do, but doing what to know

• Making life style changes are key to helping with the problem

• There are certain risk factors that people cannot change (age, sex, family history, etc.) and some that can (smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc.)

• Take medication

• Get check-ups

• Exercise

• Watch weight

• Pay attention to the warning signs

• Avoid being stuffed, stressed and stubborn

• Eat to live; do not live to eat

After closing remarks, those assembled were dismissed with prayer.

Organizers of the Heart to Heart Gala again thank the Polk County Community Foundation for making the event possible.

– Submitted by Eleanor D. Miller