ONEONTA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Heart Run and Walk in Oneonta on Saturday was a prelude to the much bigger Heart Run and Walk in Utica next month.
    
They are both designed to raise awareness of heart disease, but the question is are people really listening to the message?
    
Sunday, the Ilion and Frankfort community welcomed VFW Post Commander Bruce Williams back.  Williams suffered a major heart attack on November 28th.  Williams said in the past when he watched coverage of the Heart Run and Walk, he never really understood the message to eat right and exercise.  Now he knows its importance.
    
Bruce says he recalls November 28th vividly, he was hanging christmas decorations the day after thanksgiving, "all of a sudden, I turned to my daughter and I said to her, is it getting hot in here?  And she said no Dad, and then all of sudden the sweat started pouring down my face and I felt pain up my arm and my chest was really tightening up."
    
First responders from the Ilion Fire Department rushed him to St. Elizabeth Medical Center where he had quadruple bypass surgery. 

So now Bruce eats healthy and exercises, that is the same message that comes from America's Greatest Heart Run and Walk.
    
Bruce says he would like to take part in this year's event but is not sure if his doctor will let him, but he says either way, he will watch this year's coverage of the big event a little differently than in the past, and they say so should you.

America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk will be held at the Clark Athletic Center at Utica College on March 7 with the Health and Fitness Expo being held the night before.