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Jared Fogle, Subway spokesperson, coming to Statesboro
American Heart Association kickoff
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Jared Fogle, star of the Subway advertising campaign after he lost more than 100 pounds on the "Subway diet," will be in Statesboro February 2 as part of the American Heart and Stroke Association's Subway Challenge.
    Organizers hope to have Fogle make an appearance at each of the six Subway locations throughout Bulloch County during the two-hour fund-raiser, though the logistics of the plan have yet to be worked out. They also expect to have him make an appearance at East Georgia Regional Medical Center following the event to meet fans and sign autographs.
    Fogle's appearance is just a part of the event, which has community leaders working behind the counter at Subway for two hours preparing sandwiches for customers.
    "This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Subway Challenge," said Donna Whitt, chairperson of this year's fund raising efforts.
    Nearly $8,000 was raised during last year's Subway Challenge, part of the more than $60,000 raised for the American Heart and Stroke Association.
    The majority of the money raised came during the popular "Cardiac Arrest" in which volunteers must raise $300 by February 27 when they turn i their money to "Judge Heartless."
    Then, after paying their bail money, the judge orders them to perform some sort of humorous routine, such as singing, dancing or even skipping around the room, before they are free to go.
    "It's a really fun event and it really gets the community involved," said Laura Thompson, regional director for the AHSA.
    Thompson told the crowd at the AHSA's kickoff breakfast that heart disease is the number one killer in the United States while stroke is the third-leading killer among Americans.
    "We need to do something about that," she said.
    Whitt and Thompson both said the community involvement in Bulloch County is always strong.
    One reason for that, Whitt said, was that nearly everyone has either been affected or knows someone who was affected by heart disease or stroke.
    "Also, the American Heart Association doesn't use any of it's money for advertising, so the bulk of the money raised goes to research and education," Whitt said.
    For more information or to volunteer, contact Whitt at (912) 486-1132.
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