Last Saturday, I joined several hundred of the area’s community and business leaders at the Westmoreland Club for the Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Heart Association’s 2018 Heart Gala.

Yet again, the club and its amazing staff, led by Bob Williams, proved how remarkably fortunate we are to have such a sophisticated and elegant venue in our community. For many years, the club has helped people in the Wyoming Valley celebrate important events in our families’ lives and, as it did on Saturday night, helps worthy philanthropies raise money to support their work.

A committee of our region’s most generous citizens joined the Heart Association’s regional staff in planning, arranging and executing a wonderful party, auction and fundraiser in support of the battle against heart and blood-vessel disease and stroke.

In fact, as we’ve discussed often in this column, the size of the challenge in America remains high, as we age and too often stay inactive, eat without regard to our food’s impact on our health and, unbelievably, in the face of so much data, continue to smoke.

Yes, research has helped cardiac and neurologic professionals develop remarkable procedures to treat heart attacks, valve problems, in-born heart defects, brain aneurysms and strokes — procedures that years ago would have seemed like science fiction.

And yes, we’re so lucky that they’re available right in our own communities, at our own hospitals, delivered with skill, compassion and excellent, world-class results by professionals who are our friends and neighbors. No need to add the difficulties of travel and its disruptions to family that going out of town for care adds to the already substantial stress of a cardiac or stroke diagnosis. We can get the best right here.

At the gala, it was so gratifying to talk with many friends and neighbors about their personal experiences and the great care they’ve received here. Nevertheless, we have an obligation, I believe, to use the robust resources in our community to do our part to protect ourselves, our kids and our community from the predictable consequences of heart, vascular disease and stroke.

What does that mean? Simple: Learn to eat better; exercise more; know your numbers for weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and fats; follow your doctors’ advice; take your medicine; and please already, don’t smoke!

Some worry that their genes are stacked against them. I get it. The knowledge that family members have had or have heart, vascular or stroke issues can be depressing. Some see this as a burden they carry that sets them up for some sort of inevitable catastrophe themselves. Not true.

Genetic predisposition is real — certainly something you’d rather not be faced with — but it is not a sentence. Aggressive, thoughtful attention to risk factors, an effective partnership with health care professionals as you work on lifestyle choices focused on wellness, and a positive attitude bolstered by the support and love of family and friends can, has and will conquer most inherited tendencies.

Don’t fear your genes; learn about them; become motivated by that knowledge, and strive to overcome the risk they may represent.

And choose a worthy health-related charity and give generously. Invest some of your tax refund in your community’s health. It’s certain that this is a good deed that will come around to help you and your loved ones.