The Beaver and Butler divisions of the American Heart Association will join together to host the gala "Opening Night: A Tale of Two Cities" on March 31 at the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry Township.

The event will include a live auction with items such as a television and sound system donated by Butler Memorial Hospital and the Heritage Valley Health System, a trip to New York City, and a golf package at Oakmont Country Club.

Dr. Surendra K. Sethi of West Penn Cardiology Associates in Butler and Dr. Scott Seibel of the Tri-State Medical Group in Beaver County are the event co-chairpersons.

Funds raised will support the American Heart Association's research, local community service and public education programs.

A special appeal also will be made to raise funds to help children live stronger, more active lives. According to the heart association, overweight children and adolescents have a 62 percent to 98 percent chance of being overweight at age 35, which increases their risk of heart disease.

Sethi is credited with starting the heart catheterization lab at Butler Memorial more than 16 years ago.

"I enjoy giving back to the community by helping the American Heart Association, a well known and credible organization," Sethi said.

Seibel has been involved with the association since moving to Pittsburgh in 1994.

He said, "From a personal standpoint I have chosen to partner with the American Heart Association to increase awareness of heart disease through education and community service programs, and to raise money for cardiovascular related research."

Two people will be honored that night — Lauren McCune, cardiovascular program coordinator at Butler Memorial, and former state Rep. Nick Colafella from the Beaver area.

McCune, a registered nurse for 21 years, most of which have been in the cardiovascular care department, strives to share her story with others.

"My husband, at the very young age of 34, had a heart attack and triple bypass surgery," the Slippery Rock resident said. "Ironically, I recently suffered an Acute MI myself. It was a shock to me, my family, and my co-workers."

Colafella also strives to share his story with others.

"I think a lot of people believe that if you are eating right and are exercising consistently, nothing bad will happen to you, but what a lot of us don't realize is that stress also plays a significant role in heart disease," Colafella said.

His personal connection to heart disease began in 2001.

"I was over at my office in Center Township and I seemed to have a tough time breathing," he said.

A cardiologist told him to call an ambulance to take hom to the hospital.

"As soon I was admitted, my doctor said that if I hadn't taken the ambulance immediately to the hospital as I had, I probably would not have walked through the front door in two weeks," he said.

Not long after, Colafella underwent triple bypass surgery at the Medical Center of Beaver County.

This fundraiser will have a dinner dance with silent and live auctions that benefit the medical research and community health initiatives of the heart association. It will start with cocktails at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

Donations are $100 per person, and $125 for a patron. Advanced reservations are required.

For reservations or information on how to become a sponsor, contact Barbara Roth or Stacey Keating at the American Heart Association, 724-775-2447 or 724-287-1823.