I am running in honor of my mom, who courageously battled heart disease and congestive heart failure for many years. In 2016, she went in for heart valve replacement surgery, but sadly passed away due to complications. Losing her left a hole in my heart and sent me into a deep season of grief.
About a year later, some colleagues invited me to run the Dallas Hot Chocolate 5K. The truth is, I had always dreamed of being able to run a race like that—but I wasn’t a runner. I was 44 years old, overweight, and had previously had knee surgery for what doctors sometimes call “runner’s knee.” But I decided to try anyway.
As I started training using the Couch to 5K app, something unexpected happened. Running began to heal parts of my heart that grief had broken. The miles became therapy, the movement lifted the weight of sadness, and I finally understood what people meant when they talked about a runner’s high.
Today, I run for my mom—because her heart was never strong enough to do so. I run to honor her fight, to care for my own health, and to support the lifesaving work being done to prevent and treat heart disease and stroke.
Every mile I run carries her with me. Thank you for helping me run in her honor.
Thank you for supporting American Heart Association. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.
