Heart disease has touched my family deeply-many of my loved ones have battled high blood pressure, and my maternal great grandmother lost her life to a heart attack. Her story fuels my commitment to change the narrative for women, especially women of color, when it comes to heart health.
Check out my kickoff video!
https://youtube.com/shorts/Zh_LWVXrCwA?si=xHiGOMm877Wl026C
As a mother of two active children, I'm determined to be the healthiest version of myself so I can be here for them, and I want the same for every woman. Through my work and passion with Black Girls RUN!, I've dedicated my life to supporting and building a community where women can prioritize their own health and wellness without guilt, barriers or limits. I started my own running journey in 2010 after being told by a doctor I was "way too young" to already be on high blood pressure medication. I have used running to transform my health, ultimately losing over 100 pounds after each of my pregnancies, and now using that experience to inspire others.
Because of my personal story - as a mother, as someone with a family history of high blood pressure and heart disease, and as a woman committed to wellness through community, the American Heart Association's Woman of Impact campaign intersects directly with the mission that I personally stand for and Black Girls RUN! champions: to shift culture, change outcomes and foster sustainable health among Black women.
Did you know?
- Cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death for women in the U.S., and Black women carry the highest burden of this disease among women.
- About 59% of Black women ages 20 and over live with some form of cardiovascular disease (including heart disease, stroke, or hypertension).
- Black women are more likely to face strokes at higher rates compared to white women.
As a Woman of Impact, I'm saying: I not only want to support the American Heart Association's work, but I also want to live it, walk it and run it with others. I want to build spaces where we don't just survive heart disease, we prevent it together.