Hi, I’m William.
Heart disease runs deep in my family — on both my mother’s and father’s sides — and it’s shaped more of my life than I realized when I was younger. It’s the reason I walk in the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk. I walk for myself, for my family, for my friends, and for anyone whose life has been changed by heart disease.

When I was a kid, I watched my grandfather fight through severe heart issues. Seeing the fear in my family’s eyes and the strength it took for him just to get through a day left a mark on me. Those memories have always stayed with me… but this year, the fight against heart disease became even more personal.

In May, my mom — my rock, my steady place, the person who held our world together — had a heart attack.
I was here in New York, and she was in South Carolina. That distance… those hours… the panic of not knowing… it all hit me harder than I could have imagined. No matter how old you are, there’s something about your mom being in danger that shakes you at your core. I would have given anything in that moment to be by her side.

Thankfully, she’s still here. She’s recovering. And she’s reminding me, like she always has, what strength really looks like.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide. Stroke is second. Nearly 47% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, and more than 72% have an unhealthy weight. Those aren’t just numbers to me — they’re my family members, the people I love, the moments I never want to relive again.

So every step I take in this walk carries meaning. It’s gratitude. It’s hope. It’s a promise — to my mom, to my family, and to myself — that I’ll do everything I can to support the research, awareness, and resources that save lives.

If you’re reading this, I hope you’ll walk with me.
Not just for yourself, but for the people who are your rocks, your constants, your everything.

Let’s walk for them.
Let’s walk for all of us.
Let’s build a stronger, healthier community — together.