Why I Walk: A Personal Journey of Health, Hope, and Honor
As I lace up my sneakers to walk and chair the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk this year, I’m not just preparing for another event – I’m stepping into a journey that’s deeply personal, profoundly meaningful, and forever etched in my heart.
Turning 50: A Chapter of Change and Choice
This year, I am turning 50, a milestone that brings reflection and renewal. As I stand on the edge of this new chapter, I can’t help but think about my family’s story- a story marked by heart disease. Both of my grandfathers were taken too soon by heart issues, one of them in his 50s.
Their absence left a void, a reminder of how fragile life can be. But it also left me with a choice: to let history repeat itself or rewrite it. I am choosing to rewrite it. I’m walking to take control of my health, to break the cycle, and to create a new legacy for myself and my family- a legacy of health, hope and heart.
Walking for a Community That Matters
Everyday at AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, I am reminded why this fight is so important. Our mission is to help people get care, stay well, and live healthier lives. But behind every mission statement are real people- families battling hypertension, communities struggling with diabetes, and lives touched by heart disease.
At ACLA, we have the opportunity to serve people across the state who face these challenges daily. Half of our members are living with hypertension, diabetes, or pre-diabetes. I see their courage, their resilience, and their hope. I walk for them because they deserve a fighting chance to rewrite their own stories.
We support the American Heart Association because they lead the way with cutting-edge research, tools, and education that empowers people to live healthier lives. By walking and raising funds, we are investing in our community’s health and giving hope to those who need it most.
For Mr. Lloyd: Honoring a Fighter and Friend
This walk is also for Lloyd Paul Manison Jr., a colleague who became family. He was THE MOST LOYAL colleague whom everyone loved. Mr. Lloyd was a man of integrity, discipline, and loyalty. He lived his life with style and a sense of purpose, facing every day with strength. Even after his first battle with heart disease.
Mr. Lloyd didn’t just live; he fought to live. He showed up, inspired us, and left a legacy of perseverance and courage. I still remember his laughter, warmth, and his spirit. His journey ended too soon, but his story lives on in each of us who were lucky enough to know him. I walk to honor him, to carry forward his spirit, and to fight the disease that took him too soon.
Join Me in Taking Steps to Make a Difference
The reason I agreed to chair the heart walk isn’t just about moving my feet, but about moving hearts. It’s about funding research, raising awareness, and saving lives. It’s about giving hope to families who are still fighting, rewriting their stories before they end too soon.
I walk to change my story, to change my community’s story, and to keep Mr. Lloyd’s story alive. This is why I walk.
If my journey has touched your heart, I invite you to join me by donating, walking alongside me, or simply sharing this. Together, we can take steps that matter.
Let’s walk for life, for legacy, and for love.
