Long Island residents Jennifer Sanfilippo, a 27-year-old living with neurocardiogenic syncope, and Jeffrey Frankel of Roslyn, a survivor of Tetralogy of Fallot, "blue baby syndrome," and open-heart surgery, have been named the "red cap survivor ambassadors" of the American Heart Association's 2004 Long Island American Heart Walk.

Featuring the theme, Step Out, Save Lives! Exercise Your Heart, and presented nationally by NutriSoy and Subway, this year's Long Island American Heart Walk will be held on Sunday, Oct. 3, at Nassau Community College in Garden City. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and the 5K walk is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. The American Heart Association is proud to have Astoria Federal Savings as its local sponsor. This year's media sponsor is WBAB-102.3 FM.

Red Caps refer to survivors of heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke or heart surgery who wear red baseball caps featuring the American Heart Walk logo and the slogan, Fighting Back! and who walk in the event.

As "red cap survivor ambassadors" of the Long Island American Heart Walk, Jennifer Sanfilippo and Jeffrey Frankel will help to create awareness about the importance of not only survivors participating in American Heart Walk but all Long Island residents.

"I was born with a heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot, commonly known as Blue Baby Syndrome," said Jeffrey Frankel, a professor at Nassau Community College and Roslyn resident. "My heart was defective and unable to get oxygenated blood circulated throughout my body. After undergoing groundbreaking surgery when I was only 18 months, I went on to lead a relatively normal childhood."

In 1965, Mr. Frankel underwent open-heart surgery to repair his heart once again. Nine days post-op he had a stroke that left him paralyzed on his left side. Fortunately, the stroke did not affect his speech.

"When I turned 43, I was diagnosed with Ventricular Defibrillation," said Frankel. "My doctor implanted a ICD/pacemaker in my abdomen, it's almost 8 years later and I'm still ticking strong."

To join Jennifer Sanfilippo, Jeffrey Frankel, hundreds of other survivors and thousands of walkers from across Long Island at the American Heart Walk call the American Heart Association at 516-370-1003 or visit the Web at www.heartwalk.kintera.org/longisland.