In December, my aunt Dede passed away from a sudden heart attack. It changed our family forever. She was deeply loved, and her loss is something we carry with us every day.

But our family has also seen the other side of heart disease, the side of hope. Last year, my brother-in-law Jeremiah received a life-saving heart transplant. Today, he’s doing incredibly well, and we are so grateful for the gift of more time with him.

Both of these experiences have reminded me how real and personal heart disease is.

9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital do not survive. In many of those cases, CPR wasn’t started in time. That’s heartbreaking, especially knowing that simple training can make the difference between life and death.

I walk in honor of my Aunt Dede, and in celebration of Jeremiah’s second chance at life. I walk because I don’t want another family to get that phone call. I walk to raise awareness, to support research, and to help train more people in lifesaving CPR.

If you’re able to donate, every dollar truly makes an impact. Together, we can turn bystanders into lifesavers.

I walk for Dede. And I walk with gratitude for Jeremiah. ð¤