The fight against heart disease and stroke is deeply personal. When I was five years old, I met my first, and perhaps greatest, role model: Altiman Coy, affectionately known as Starkie. He was the father of my mother's partner, and over time, he became a beloved grandfather figure to me. Starkie was a man of immense kindness and gentleness, and he instilled in me many of the qualities I carry to this day about life and business.
Starkie, named for his tall, slender and firm build, was cherished by our entire rural community in Pagee Beach, Jamaica. He operated one of the only stores in the area and frequently offered provisions and necessities on credit to patrons who were too poor to afford them. He would keep meticulous records to ensure accountability, but he was fair, treated everyone with dignity and respect.
Over the years, I watched Starkie's health decline, beginning with a traumatic event that occurred just before breakfast one morning, caused by his uncontrolled blood pressure. I was only six at the time and had no concept of blood pressure, its causes, or the necessary care. Neither did he, because, like so many loved ones growing up, he didn't visit the doctor regularly, monitor his diet, nor exercise. Witnessing Starkie—a man of such high stature, both figuratively and literally—fall over, losing his equilibrium, consciousness, and laying helplessly, set me on a quest. This experience ignited a determination within me to not only be mindful of my own health but also to raise awareness and resources for others, especially my loved ones.
