Tomorrow I celebrate my 40th birthday. Certainly an occasion for celebrating. It will be a holiday weekend, and I’ll be returning to my hometown to spend time with my family. Sound like something anyone hitting a milestone birthday would do.
But for me it is particularly momentous.
Because I am a Red Hat Survivor. I was born with an insidious heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. It is a defect that, left untreated is fatal by age 10 for 70% of those afflicted. The chances I would have reached age 40? 1 in 20.
But I am here today and in less than a month I will be walking in the 2010 Start! Wall Street Heart Walk (and Run) for the American Heart Association.
The American Heart Association is a cause that is very dear to me. Because of the work they do children like me are living to 40, 50 and beyond. They raise the money that goes to fund research to find the causes and cures of all variety of heart disease as well as strokes. I’m proud of their work and my association with their efforts.
You can show your support for the American Heart Association by sponsoring TEAM TRAVELER BILL in next months walk. You can make your tax deductible donation online via the Heart Association’s secure website by clicking here.
Please note, the website has a minimum donation of $25. Donations of smaller amounts, or from people who prefer to not donate online, are enthusiastically accepted by US Mail. Email me at Bmail@TravelerBill.com and I will provide you the details on how to make an off-line donation.
Over the past three years family, friends and colleagues have helped me raise almost $15,000, but there is much more to do. Until heart disease and stroke are a distant memory, I will keep doing my best to fight them the only way I can…with your support.
Thank you and have a great holiday weekend,
Bill