Why I Walk: Honoring a Legacy, Protecting the Future
For many, the Heart Walk is a wonderful community event or a great way to promote physical fitness. But for me, the steps we take together carry deeply personal meaning.

I participate in the Heart Walk to honor the extraordinary woman who shaped who I am today: my grandmother.
She didn't just raise me; she was my anchor, my fiercest advocate, and the person who taught me the true meaning of unconditional love. Tragically, her life was cut short by heart disease. Experiencing that loss firsthand showed me how abruptly cardiovascular illness can steal away the people who anchor our lives, leaving a void that never truly heals.

Coming to work every day at our pediatric specialty clinic, I look at our young patients and see the beginnings of their own long stories. Every child we care for has a family counting on them to grow, thrive, and one day become the anchors, parents, and grandparents of the future. That is why this walk matters so much to me-and why I am so proud to walk alongside this incredible team:
For the Families: We see firsthand how deeply a child's health impacts the entire family unit. By supporting heart health, we protect the entire ecosystem of love surrounding these kids.
For the Future: Cardiovascular health starts in childhood. The awareness, research, and funding we raise today directly impact the preventive care and medical breakthroughs available to the next generation.
For the Legacy: Walking is my way of keeping my grandmother's spirit alive-turning the grief of her loss into a powerful, active force for good.
Whether you have a personal connection to heart disease, a passion for preventive health, or simply a deep love for the kids and families we serve every day, I would be deeply honored to have you walk with me. Let's take these steps together to fund life-saving research, celebrate survival, and ensure that fewer families have to say goodbye to the ones they love too soon.

Thank you for being part of my village, and for everything you do for our patients every single day.