I walk—and fundraise—for so many reasons. Heart disease and stroke have touched my life in ways I can never forget.

My grandmother lived her last decade struggling every day with heart disease. One of my dads died suddenly from a stroke while flying to a wedding. It happened near Illinois, and I never got to say goodbye. My significant other spent time in the ICU after learning—at the most critical moment—that heart failure had changed life forever. And my son lives with POTS, a condition linked to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, where research is still far too limited.

These experiences remind me of one truth: death will never end, but no one should suffer while they live. My dream is to see research that helps people live fully—without being held back by a heart that’s broken.

Every step we take and every dollar we raise brings us closer to that dream. Please join Paging Dr Walk or donate today. Together, we can fund the research that saves lives and gives families more time, more hope, and more heart.