A heart attack survivor is taking great strides to promote a healthy heart. Colon Terrell is walking from North Carolina to California to raise awareness about heart disease and raise money for the American Heart Association.

As of Wednesday, the 64 year old was traveling through East Texas, walking along Highway 49 on the outskirts of Jefferson. Terrell says he walks about 25 miles a day, which takes about six hours to complete. His trip will take him across 11 states, 3,000 miles in 187 days. And he says it's all in an effort to save lives.

"You can take cancer, you can take car wrecks, you can take wars altogether, heart attacks take more people," said Terrell.

The retired bank president teamed up with the American Heart Association after he had a heart attack in 2009. Terrell says when he retired in late 2011, he wanted to find a way to stay active, travel and promote a healthy heart. That's how he came up with "Heart Trek USA."
"Everybody can be a little bit heathlier, and that's what we're trying to encourage," said Terrell. "I'm 64, a heart attack survivor and if I can do it, anybody can."

Terrell is almost halfway through his cross country tour  and says every step has been worth it. He will travel to Lake O' the Pines on Thursday and Gilmer, Texas on Friday. He plans to reach Santa Monica, California by September. To donate to the American Heart Association or for more information on Heart Trek USA visit www.hearttrekusa.com.