I’m walking in the Heart Walk because heart disease has profoundly shaped my life. I lost my mom suddenly to a heart attack and my dad unexpectedly to a stroke. Losing both parents changed me forever and showed me just how devastating and unpredictable heart disease can be.

Sadly, that wasn’t the end of my story. I later lost Dave, my lifetime partner, to heart disease. Losing him was heartbreaking beyond words. Prior to Dave, we also lost John, the father of my children, to heart disease as well. These were people we loved deeply—people who mattered, people who should still be here.

Each loss has reinforced the same painful truth: heart disease does not discriminate, and too often it strikes without warning. That is why the Heart Walk is so personal to me. It represents prevention, early detection, research, and advocacy—because awareness, access to the right testing, and continued research can save lives.

I walk in honor of my mom, my dad, Dave, and John. I walk for those still fighting, and for a future where fewer families experience the kind of loss mine has endured. Thank you for supporting me and this important cause.