I walk because heart disease isn't just a statistic to me. It's personal.

My 3-year-old daughter was born with complex congenital heart disease. Before she celebrated her first birthday, she had already undergone two open-heart surgeries. In the years ahead, we will be preparing for her third open-heart surgery. For our family, this journey is ongoing, and our fight is far from over.

Every day, I am reminded of how precious every heartbeat truly is.

That's why I walk. With every step I take, I walk for my daughter, for the doctors and researchers who continue to make lifesaving breakthroughs possible, and for every family facing a heart journey of their own.

The truth is, we're all connected to heart disease and stroke in some way. Whether it's a child, parent, spouse, friend, coworker, or neighbor, most of us know someone whose life has been touched by heart disease. Together, we have the power to change that story.

When you support the Heart Walk, you're doing more than making a donation. You're helping fund groundbreaking research, advancing treatments, improving patient outcomes, and creating hope for families like mine. You're helping ensure more children can grow up, more parents can watch their kids thrive, and more families can share precious moments together.

As the American Heart Association marks its Centennial, we continue the relentless pursuit of a future where heart disease and stroke no longer claim the lives of those we love.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting this cause that means so much to me and my family.

Please join me in the fight. Walk with us. Donate if you can. Help us reach our goal. Because every step, every dollar, and every heartbeat matters.

â¤ï¸ For my daughter. For your loved ones. For every heartbeat.