I’m walking in the Heart Walk because heart disease touches every single one of us. We all know someone — a parent, a friend, a coworker — whose life was cut short or forever changed by heart disease. It’s the leading cause of death in the U.S., and when cardiac arrest strikes, 9 out of 10 people don’t survive. That’s not just a statistic; that’s families left without someone they love.

I’m walking because those numbers shouldn’t be our reality. Because more research, more education, and more awareness can save lives. Because every step is a step toward better treatments, stronger communities, and more survivors. I’m walking for the people we’ve lost, the people fighting today, and the people we can still protect.