Why I Walk
Heart disease doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone, anywhere... including me.
As a child, I was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, but only after a long and painful stretch of the illness going undiagnosed. By the time doctors identified it, the inflammation had already reached my heart. Treatment helped, and for a while, I thought the hardest part was behind me.
Through high school and college, I struggled with what I believed were anxiety and panic attacks. In 2018, while competing at the Division III Wrestling Nationals, I experienced symptoms of a heart attack. Thankfully, medical professionals were right there and acted quickly. Their fast response may very well have saved my life.
Soon after, I learned the truth: I had Tachy Brady Syndrome, which is a condition where the heart alternates between beating too fast and too slow. When paired with intense exercise, it can trigger heart attacks.
That is why I walk.
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I walk for kids whose symptoms go unrecognized or misdiagnosed.
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I walk for people who don’t have access to immediate, lifesaving care.
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I walk for a future where research, education, and quick action give every person the best chance to live a longer, healthier life.
Your support makes that future possible. Together, we can turn stories like mine into stories of survival, hope, and resilience.
Please join me by making a donation today. Every dollar fuels lifesaving research, education, and community programs that create more moments, more memories, and more tomorrows for families everywhere.
