ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Put on your ruby slippers, Ohio Valley!

The American Heart Association is excited to partner with local community leaders to take you on a trip to the Land of Oz at the Ohio Valley Heart Ball — “If I Only Had a Heart” — happening this Saturday, Feb. 22, at Belmont Hills Country Club. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Funds raised from the event will help fight the No. 1 and No. 5 killers of Americans — heart disease and stroke.

Celebrating their 30th year as Heart Ball Co-Chairs are John and Melissa Rataiczak. WTRF TV’s Annalise Murphy will emcee the event.

“We are so excited to see the Ohio Valley once again come together to celebrate and to help raise funds for our mission in the region,” said Lauren Thomas, development director for the American Heart Association. “I can’t wait to see how people bring the Oz theme to life on Saturday while helping us in the fight against heart disease and stroke.”

A news release notes that the heart ball will also include silent auctions, delicious foods and live music from Eli and the Mojo Kings.

Area sponsors include The Health Plan, WVU Medicine, WesBanco, Belmont Savings Bank, Steptoe & Johnson, Ohio River Collieries, Capstone Holdings, Savvy Sellebrations, DeFelice Bros. Pizza, Capital Health Nursing & Rehabilitation (in memory of Barbie Elliott), Cardinal Operating Company, Community Bank, Dr. Edward Chiu, East Central Ohio Educational Service Center, Fort Henry Capital, Gompers Lohri & Associates PLLC, Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal, McKinley Carter Wealth Services, Moundsville Pharmacy, MPR Transloading & Energy Services, Novo Nordisk, Regional Economic Development Partnership, Steele Insurance Associates, Inc., Steve Wharton CPA, CGMA / The Glessner Group, Trinity Health System, Trinity Health System Cardiology Surgical Team, Trinity Health System Structural Heart Team, Verdantas, and Visit Wheeling, West Virginia. WTRF 7, iHeart Wheeling, and Lamar Outdoor are the media supporters for this event.

“We can’t say thanks enough to our sponsors and community partners,” added Thomas. “They helped us bring this beautiful night to the region and, without them, our mission to save lives couldn’t happen.”

For more information, contact Thomas at lauren.thomas@heart.org.