I’m doing the 2024 Heart Walk in honor of my dad, John Erskine who loved to walk. As kids, he’d take me and my siblings on hikes that felt like 100 miles pointing out lots of interesting details along the way.
When we’d whine about being tired, he’d cheerily say, “Almost there” for what felt like a million times.I think of him often when I’m on walks these days, especially when sitting on a log or a rock while resting on a walk. That’s the best part – sitting, taking a breath and enjoying how far I’ve come.
Dad had a heart incident soon after his retirement, and he got amazing treatment at the University of Virginia Medical Center which extended his life another decade.So by doing this walk, I’m hoping to raise funds to thank the heart health researchers and doctors who treated my dad, and all of us.
Dad never lost his cheery demeanor, even to his last day. When my legs are weary and I need to get back home, I can almost hear Dad saying, “Almost there.”
