Wednesday, August 31, 2011

American Heart Walk

This year I have once again set out on a mission that is very near and dear to my heart and it is now only two weeks away. As many of you might not be aware, my brother passed away 25 years ago from a congenital heart defect. I can not believe that he has been away from us for so long but he remains close in my heart. I also lost my grandfather just a few short years ago. He was actually one of the first persons to receive the Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) units. At that time, they had not even received FDA approval yet. This unit is an electronic device that constantly monitors your heart rate and rhythm. When it detects a very fast, abnormal heart rhythm, it delivers energy to the heart muscle. This causes the heart to beat in a normal rhythm again. It gave him another few years of life. And in April, just a few short months ago, my grandmother suffered a major heart attack and stroke which took her from us all too quickly.

On September 18, 2011, I will be participating in the 19th Annual American Heart Walk in San Ramon, CA . I have set a personal goal to raise $1000 for the American Heart Association and need your help to reach my donation goal. We are raising critical dollars for heart disease and stroke research and education. Your donation is tax deductible!!!You can help me reach my goal by sending a donation directly to me, or by making a donation online. The link to make an online donation is:
http://heartwalkbayarea.kintera.org/kimconnors.

The American Heart Association's online fundraising website has a minimum donation amount of $25.00. If you prefer to donate less, you can do so by sending a check directly to me. If you are unable to donate this year, please come out and walk with me. Just sign-up to register to be a part of my team. The walk is a 5K and begins at 8:30am at Bishop Ranch.

Unfortunately, many of our youth are becoming over weight, eating poorly, not exercising, etc. and these dollars will eventually assist in their well being. Hopefully they decide to make some life changes along the way but until then, the research and education components are important!Your donation will help fight our nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers—heart disease and stroke as well as helping me to remember two people that I loved very dearly. You are making a difference. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,Kim