If my math is correct, I believe this is my 17th year fundraising for the Heart Walk. I wish I knew the exact amount I have raised in that time, but whatever it is I know I couldn't have ever done it without the support of my friends and family.

Those who know me know that the American Heart Association isn't just my employer, it's one of my greatest passions. Heart Disease and Stroke are vicious and have no mercy on families like mine and others I love. If you have followed along through the years, you know that I honor and remember my dad and my dear friend Barney through my efforts. Having said that, there are countless others who I honor and remember with this fundraising campaign.

Grief can be a real bitch, but it can also be a gift. Grief has led me to raising thousands of dollars for an organization that is literally saving lives and doing incredible things that you can't even imagine and wouldn't expect. I know that my dad and Barney would be unbelievably proud of me, and I hope my friends and family who are survivors or have lost someone they love are proud of me too. I do this each year not just for myself but for all of us.