EVERY day one person is flown off the island to hospitals in the U.S. as a result of cardiac-related illnesses. Heart disease - it's the number one killer of Bermudians that is silently wreaking havoc on the island's fragile health care system. Starting Sunday, the Bermuda Heart Foundation begins its Heart Smart Month, the annual month-long awareness campaign. Also making a new beginning is the organisation's new Executive Director, Simone Barton, a savvy independent businesswoman who is breathing new life into the charity. Ms Barton sat down with Mid-Ocean News reporter Lindsay Kelly and photographer Mark Tatem to talk about heart healthy activities planned for the month and the future direction of the Foundation.

Q. When did you start as the Executive Director of the Bermuda Heart Foundation?

A. I started with the Heart Foundation in mid-September. I'm the new kid on the block.

Q. What led you to become involved with the Heart Foundation?

A. My core skill set is that of an event designer and producer. I've always run my own businesses. Simone Barton & Associates has done everything from fashion layouts for Macy's and Bloomingdale's, commercials for Doritos and the 2006 summer catalogue for Eddie Bauer.

I was thinking about future employment possibilities and one of my clients introduced me to two of the Heart Foundation Board Members that were interviewing candidates. After speaking with them I realised that their needs matched my strengths. And, I'm a firm believer that you should 'pay it forward'. Bermuda has been very good to me and my family. We all should all feel very blessed for living here. So when you get an opportunity like that of the Heart Foundation, which allows you to pay it forward, you've got to take it, full barrels loaded.

Q. Heart disease is Bermuda's number one killer, what does the term heart disease really mean?

A. The term heart disease encompasses all the issues related to the clogging of the arteries surrounding the heart. Over a period of time, the damage that we do from the way we eat and not exercising begins to take a toll on the valves of the heart. Additionally, a lot of the heart disease issues that we see here stem from diabetes. Most of our clients at the Heart Foundation are diabetics since a lot of that patient population will suffer from heart-related illness eventually. If we can handle diabetes, especially Type 2, then we are also handling the issues of heart disease. This is not to say anything about heart disease that is attributed to genetic factors, which is harder to avoid and needs to be monitored. But other factors, particularly lifestyle factors, can be positively affected through awareness and education.

Q. Tell me about the goal of Heart Smart Month.

A. Even though we are doing a number of activities this month, we are focusing on continuing our awareness campaigns throughout the year. We're trying to get across that it's not Draconian measures we are taking about in order to make effective and healthy changes in our lives.

We really want to focus on prevention and in doing so we always say one small step today will lead to a greater, healthier tomorrow. If you just take a couple baby steps a month that will lead to a couple steps a week, which will eventually lead to a couple steps a day. It's simplistic in nature but I find that often times people get overwhelmed with a lot of information.

People are told that "you have to exercise, you can't eat this or you can't do that" and when you approach it from that perspective, most people generally will be turned off.

So I don't want to underscore the extreme importance of exercise and health awareness but I do want to focus on the fun side. It doesn't have to be complicated.

Q. Is Bermuda's heart disease statistics different from anywhere else in the world?

A. The statistics are similar across the world; we're all facing similar challenges. And, it's partly because we've strayed away from the simplistic nature of life. We don't walk as much as our predecessors did; fast food is too cheap and too readily available. Our generation has progressed and our standard of living is more elevated than our parents' generation but our parents had it a bit easier because they got up and walked to the store, kids walked to school instead of jumping on the bus or being driven, someone had to hang the wash on the line. It's not a simple way of life anymore.

Q. Heart Smart Month has 19 activities this month. Tell me about what is going on.

A. We kick off the month with our first ever Heart Smart Mystery Walk at the Botanical Gardens this Sunday. The walk is based on the game of Clue. We're taking Clue and bringing it to life.

The premise is that you don't have to run a marathon; this walk is not a race but it will take you to from one end of the park to the other in an interesting, outdoor environment where exercise is made to be fun. It's not your normal walk at all. It's a unique and different event - the first time that something like this has gone on for the public in Bermuda. For those that don't register a head of time, there will be a pre-registration at 1 p.m. on Sunday in the Jack King Building.

Q. What else is going on in February?

A. On February 6, we're beginning our call-to-action programme called "Let's Go Red" to focus on awareness of heart disease. You cannot change unless you know the correct information. Even though heart disease is the top disease on the island, when you ask people what is the top disease they'll say a lot of other illnesses first before they say heart disease.

So on that day, we're asking people to wear some form of red to bring awareness of the fact that heart disease is the number one killer here in Bermuda.

We have also planned a number of informative sessions called "Matters of the Heart" given by the Cardiac Resource Group every Monday night at the King Edward Memorial Hospital that vary from heart nutrition, heart health exercises and diabetes and heart disease.

We're also hosting healthy cooking classes and what's good about these classes is that many people want to eat better but just don't know what to cook or where to begin. A lot of people think that a healthy meal consists of boiled chicken and carrots and it's not. Chef Michael Hammond from the Hospital, does a phenomenal job of teaching people that healthy food is just a call back to the basics that is not laden in butter and fats. It's all about good, clean, fresh food that is really very tasty, simple to prepare and great for the family.

Q. I heard about the Jump Fit event. That sounds fun - what is it about?

A. Jump Fit will be held at the Bermuda College on February 21. I'm calling for anyone who used to jump rope as a kid or plays jump rope with their children now. Anyone that can turn a rope should come out and have a good time. We'll be playing music and it's open to men, women and children. It's one of the easiest, cost effective exercises that are out there. It gets the heart rate going, builds tone and flexibility, and improves cardio and stamina. We are also going to have an instructor there to teach anyone who is interested about the form of jump rope that boxers use in their training.

Q. The Foundation is offering free health screenings too?

A. Yes, free screenings are going on all month. The good thing about these screenings is that people and companies can see tangible results from it. For example, we did a free screening session at a company and we sent six employees to the doctor to get a further examination.

At another office of 30 people, we sent two people to the doctor. If we can prevent just one employee from suffering a future heart attack, that's possibly saving a life and saving that company thousands of dollars in health care costs. Our activities can be equated to a tangible dollar amount.

Q. What is your ultimate goal for the Heart Foundation?

A. Our ultimate goal is to raise awareness of heart disease in Bermuda, lower the percentage of people dying of heart disease and to elevate the numbers of people that go and do something about their health.

One of the insane things that I come across is that someone will say: "I know I have diabetes but I don't take care of it" or they say: "I know I have high blood pressure but I won't take my pills on a regular basis". And, they give you a myriad of reasons of why they don't.

But I often just ask one simple question: "if you had the choice of an amputation or monitoring your blood sugar, which one would you choose?" Or: "If you had the choice between a heart attack and little pill that you take every day, which one would you rather have?"

It's so simple to become aware of your health.

For more information about Heart Smart Month and the activities during February, visit www.mybermudaheart.bm or call Ms Barton at 239-2052.