This year’s St. Louis Congenital Heart Walk holds a very special meaning for me. On Saturday, September 26, I’ll once again be walking in support of The Children’s Heart Foundation alongside C&E Heart Heroes.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of our team becoming C&E Heart Heroes—the year we changed our team name to include Evelyn alongside Calie. For me, it represents 10 years of walking with even more of a purpose, fundraising, raising awareness, and celebrating not one but TWO incredible Heart Warriors who have inspired me every step of the way: my adopted nieces, Calie and Evelyn.

For the past 10 years, I have walked with a mission even closer to my heart. One in 110 babies is born with a congenital heart defect, making CHDs the most common birth defect in our country. For my family, those statistics are far more than numbers—they represent the challenges, surgeries, milestones, and triumphs that Calie and Evelyn have faced throughout their lives. As their Aunt Christine, I have witnessed their courage and resilience firsthand, and it continues to motivate me to walk, fundraise, and spread awareness year after year.

That’s why I proudly support The Children’s Heart Foundation, the only organization solely dedicated to funding congenital heart defect research. Their work helps develop better treatments, improve outcomes, and give families like mine hope for the future. Research is the reason more children with CHD are not only surviving, but thriving—and your support helps make that possible.

I would be so grateful if you would consider joining me in this mission. Whether it’s through a donation in honor of Calie and Evelyn, walking beside us as part of C&E Heart Heroes, or simply sharing our story, you can make a real difference.