Every step I take this year has a name, a face, and a family behind it. Here's why I'm walking and why it means so much to me.
Last year, my family experienced a loss that changed everything. My brother-in-law, Alex, passed away suddenly at just 38 years old. He was a husband, a son, a brother, and most importantly, a devoted father to two young children who now grow up carrying his memory instead of his hugs.
Heart disease didn't care that he had so much life left to live — birthdays to celebrate, milestones to witness, bedtime stories still to tell. It took him far too soon, and it left a void our family will feel forever.
I walk because Alex's story is not unique. Heart disease is the leading cause of death, and behind every statistic is a family like mine — one that would give anything for more time.
So I walk for him. I walk for his children, who deserve a world where fewer families face this kind of heartbreak. And I walk with hope — because every step, every dollar, and every conversation moves us closer to a future where research, awareness, and prevention give families the one thing they can't get back: more time together.
Want to walk with me? Together, we can help make a real impact and create more moments that matter for families like mine.