A growing trend shows that heart attacks are increasingly more common in young adults. One in five people under the age of 45 have a heart attack. My dad is that one in five. He died from a sudden heart attack at 44 years old. I was just 10 years old when it happened. It has since changed my whole world.
My dad, Chris Marshall, was a devoted husband, father, and community member.
He was deeply ingrained in our lives. He would wake up at 4:30 in the morning to make sure he could be home to play when we got home from school. He was known to coach many of our sports teams. He loved to squeeze in every ounce of family time he could, including getting his “girls” to pick up golf.
In just ten short years, he instilled values of family, hardwork, and volunteerism into my being. These characteristics are central to who I am today.
That’s why it became clear I had to say “yes” when I was approached in August about being a 2024 Leader of Impact for the American Heart Association. They are the oldest and largest volunteer organization working to fund research to help fight against cardiovascular diseases and strokes. It is my time to honor my dad’s life by raising funds to support this work. I want to help ensure other little girls can have their dad around to watch them graduate, walk down the aisle, and be there for every other big life moment.