My name is Ray Jones, and I want to share something deeply personal with you—because it just might be the spark someone needs today.
Years ago, I stood on the scale and saw the number 515 pounds. As a former Division I college baseball player, I never imagined I’d find myself in that place. But life happens, and somewhere between addiction to food, broken promises to myself, and the mindset of “I’ll start tomorrow,” I found myself slipping further from the life I wanted.
Then came the moment of brutal truth: my doctor told me that if I didn’t change, I might not make it to 50. That reality, paired with my family’s honesty, hit me hard. Thankfully, I wasn’t alone. My brother became the force that pulled me up—taking me to the gym, pushing me with tough love, and even committing with me to a 90-day juice fast that helped kickstart my transformation. My parents, Diane and Tom, supported me unconditionally, even dieting alongside me without ever forcing it. My daughters Caitlin and Emily, and now my grandchildren, gave me more reasons to keep going. And my wife, Jobelle—whom I married in 2018—has been my constant source of strength and joy.
I tried everything—lap band surgery, commercial diets, and fasting. Some helped temporarily. But in the end, it was the simple, unglamorous truth that worked: burn more calories than you consume. That, and the support of the people who loved me.
Today, at 235 pounds, I’m back at my college playing weight. I can golf, sleep reasonably well, travel comfortably, and—best of all—play with my grandkids without gasping for air. In 2017, I was honored to receive the Lifestyle Change Award from the American Heart Association, and I walk today not just for myself, but for others who are still searching for their turning point.
I’m inviting you to join my American Heart Walk team. Whether you’re on your own health journey, supporting someone else, or simply believe in the mission, your presence matters. Not everyone has the support I had—but maybe, just maybe, we can be that support for someone else.
There is hope. You don’t have to be perfect. I still enjoy a burger and a beer now and then—but now, I know when to stop. I know what it’s like to fall down. More importantly, I know how to get back up.
Join me. Walk with me. Let’s be the reason someone doesn’t give up.
With heart,
Ray
