Four hours into a nearly six-hour flight from Seattle to Mexico, Sara Metz felt overly anxious – far more than the usual jitters of a bride-to-be days before her wedding on a beach in Playa del Carmen. She was watching the movie “Unbroken” when that feeling hit. Thinking maybe the intensity of that story was…Read More…

Hello, my name is Mallory Jones, and I am honored to share my story with you. My journey with the American Heart Association (AHA) has been rooted in my life-changing experience that has fueled my passion for heart health advocacy.   In January 2021, during a junior high school volleyball game, I suddenly became disoriented,…Read More…

You never know how one small yes can change the trajectory of your life – just ask longtime American Heart Association volunteer, Heather Amberson. The morning of April 6, 2024, Heather gave a soft yes to her family and friends that she would still go to the Northwest Alabama Heart Walk that day. It would…Read More…

At 32 years old, Cheri Shepard didn’t expect to suddenly be raising three young children by herself – or becoming an advocate for CPR and AEDs. Yet that’s what happened when her husband, Derrick, collapsed while playing racquetball. A former Oklahoma University and NFL football player, Derrick died before an ambulance arrived and assistance was…Read More…

This month, we want to highlight two amazing teachers here in Utah who have been vital in supporting American Heart Association efforts to expand no-cost school meals across their state. John and Keenan, dedicated educators in the Salt Lake City School District, know that good nutrition and a full stomach are essential for learning. They…Read More…

Meet Eugina Gilmore, a devoted mother, daughter, friend, and a passionate advocate for You’re the Cure. Known as Gina, she is an IT professional at Unilever NA, managing mobile phones and printers for North America. When she’s not at work, Gina enjoys capturing moments through her photography and expressing her creativity in the kitchen. But…Read More…

Since taking her first CPR course as a teenager, Candice has felt a connection to this life-saving skill. In recent years, that feeling has deepened as she has lost several family members where CPR possibly could have saved their lives. Instead of wondering “What if,” Candice – an AHA certified CPR instructor – has chosen…Read More…

I started with the American Heart Association over 15 years ago through the Train to End Stroke program. I had decided to challenge myself to run my first half marathon while committing to a great cause. Through my work at the time as a Physical Therapist, I had experience treating individuals of varying ages impacted…Read More…

I was able to travel to Washington, DC and participate in the Rally for Medical Research, September 13-14th2023. Sharing my medical story with the state of Idaho Congressional members and engaging in shared interest and support of our country’s medical research trajectory touched me deeply. The medical community’s message encouraged an increase of appropriations for…Read More…

My name is DJ Yearwood, as of this writing I’m 16, and I am proud to be an American Heart Association (AHA) youth advocate. Through the American Heart Association, I have begun a path in public health advocacy and youth related issues. It is because of the American Heart Association that I have been able…Read More…