This is my dad.

You can't tell from this photo, but in early 2018 he suffered a stroke that left the entire left side of his body paralyzed. Since then, his mobility has been significantly limited.

He is my "why."

My dad's love for family and friends has always been an example for me. He taught me the importance of showing up for the people you love, and that's something I strive to do every day. We share a love of travel and still talk about future adventures often. Unfortunately, because of the lasting effects of his stroke, traveling together is no longer possible the way it once was.

I joined the American Heart Association for many reasons, but I stay because of him and because of our mission to relentlessly fight heart disease and stroke.

As a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations to fund lifesaving research, advocate for healthier communities, and provide education that helps people better understand and prevent heart disease and stroke. That education reaches doctors, nurses, hospitals, workplaces, schools, families, and individuals like my dad and so many others whose lives have been forever changed.

In his honor, I've set a goal to raise $6,000 for this year's Dallas Heart Walk.

I'd be honored to have your support. Whether you're helping me honor my dad, remembering someone you've lost, celebrating a survivor, or investing in a future with fewer families impacted by heart disease and stroke, your contribution truly makes a difference.

Thank you for helping create more years, more memories, and more moments with the people we love.