For six years the Family Heart Foundation community has taken on the challenge of raising awareness and funds in our Race to Save More Hearts. The name has changed over those years, but the passion of the participants has always been awe-inspiring.
People with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), homozygous FH (HoFH), and high lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), are at high risk for early heart attack and stroke. Many already have cardiovascular disease due to a missed or delayed diagnosis. Less than 25% of those with FH are achieving target LDL cholesterol levels, and most people have never even had their Lp(a) checked.
We want to make sure everyone is diagnosed early and has the chance to live free of heart attacks and strokes.
While we call it a race, we encourage individuals and teams to choose their own challenge. You can run, walk, hike, swim, dedicate yourself to eating healthy, the possibilities are endless, and we love to see the creativity of our community.
Let’s walk through some of our most memorable races over the years.
Ally’s Memes
Ally had a sudden heart attack at the age of 24. Four months later, and just two days before her wedding, Ally’s dad died of a heart attack at the age of 55. Ally used her Race to spread some humor and light to the community by posting memes poking fun at the world of FH and Lp(a). She raised $2,104.
Mackenzie’s FHysical Challenge
In 2019, Mackenzie decided running wasn’t for her. So, she challenged herself to try 30 different workouts for her Race to honor the fact that her grandfather died at 30 of FH. In each class, she spread awareness and kept a blog about her different experiences. She raised $1,825.
Jude and Patrick’s Race to Save More Families and More Hearts
Teenage cousins Jude and Patrick are both affected by familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Jude lives in Cincinnati and Patrick lives in Dallas so the two pledged to raise money that matches the distance between their homes – 1,529 kilometers! They hit that goal and made it a round trip, raising $3,058!
The Williams Girls’ Race
The Williams Sisters have seen the devastating effects of FH in their family. In 2019, they decided to host a 5k walk at a local high school to help people understand FH, know their risks, and take care of their hearts! They raised $1,733.
The New England Heartbeats
This team has been seen in several Races for the Family Heart Foundation. Members of the Family Heart team and community in New England gather for a run club dedicated to raising awareness and funds to save more families and more hearts. In 2019, they raised $8,432.
