Heart disease and stroke are not just statistics to me. When I was a medical student, my mom had a stroke at an early age (around 45 y/o), she was terrified of the risks of undergoing thrombolytic therapy, all she heard was: "If I give this medication you may have a brain bleed". 

I was still in medical school, but understood how important it was to use our small window of time to give her this medication, I was astounded by how quickly, despite her evident fear, she immediately listened to my recommendation and placed her trust in me, accepting the medication. Fortunately, she recovered well except for occasionaly forgetting where she left her keys (which I tease her about).

The way she placed her entire trust on my recommendation, on my medical knowledge (which was still in development at the time) and observing her recovery, deeply changed the way I saw my career, it no longer just meant acquiring knowledge, medicine became a passion, a passion to help others in their most vulnerable moments. 

Every step we take on this walk, every dollar raised, ever additional person that becomes slightly more informed helps make this world a tiny bit more compassionate and can make a difference in someones life. 

I finally understood my medical school's motto: ALIIS VIVERE
(TO LIVE FOR OTHERS)