I dedicate this walk to my late father, Charles, my daughters, Geena and Emily, and to myself as a reminder of the importance of self-care, mindfulness, and a healthy, balanced life. It serves as a beautiful reminder that every minute we have, and every step we take alongside family and friends, is precious. No matter what our walk of life, we have the power to make a difference for ourselves and others.

My connection to the American Heart Association began in 2013 after my father’s stroke and heart failure diagnosis, inspiring a healthy lifestyle transformation across generations of our family. It was not easy. A year later, his life was saved at a Muni bus stop because ordinary strangers recognized the signs of a heart attack, he received immediate, life-saving help.  We are profoundly grateful to those anonymous heroes, to the incredible healthcare teams at UCSF and Chinese Community Hospital who together bridged the gaps in his care plan. Just as important, we relied on the resources and support provided by organizations like the American Heart Association, which taught, encouraged, and inspired hope as we adapted to a new way of living. Because of all of them, my father was blessed to live for almost 13 more years, remaining an active, loving part of my and my daughters' lives until 2025 when he passed away of heart failure at the age of 89.

This is why I walk on September 24th, 2026, and every single day.

In a single heartbeat, your support can make all the difference in someone's story.

9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital don’t survive. Most of the time, it’s because no one nearby performed CPR. But together, we can change that.

Extraordinary things happen when people take action. A small step. A simple skill. A lifesaving moment. Heart Walk brings communities together to create health and hope for every heartbeat. Every walker who joins, every dollar donated, means more people trained in CPR, more research and more lifesaving moments for everyone.  

Extraordinary starts with YOU. Help me reach my goal today!