"Heart" Work Pays Off!

On February 23, 2013 I witnessed one of the most beautiful sights through the American Heart Association.  The 2012-2013 Pittsburgh Heart Ball was incredibly captivating and inspiring.  When I received the invitation for the Heart Ball, I continuously asked, "Why me?"  But my good friend, Brandon Berns, encouraged me to look back on how much I have achieved over the past two years from little Homer City, and I quickly sent in my RSVP.  To be invited to such an amazing ceremony with supporters of heart health awareness made me feel at peace.  As I'm working hard each and every day on things as simple as sticking a mustache on a notecard, I know now that it all pays off in the end... and that it matters... that I matter, and that we will continue to fight for a cure for heart disease for as long as it takes.

"The Pittsburgh Heart Ball raised $1,300,000 to save lives and improve the health of the Pittsburgh community by funding biomedical research, ongoing educational programs, and advocacy efforts in cardiovascular diseases and stroke."  Can you say WOW?!?!  I'm so proud to be a part of this and thankful for those who band together to make it all possible.

Here is a view of the banquet hall... huge props to all of the volunteers who took the time to make it look so gorgeous and welcoming.

And me with the most amazing guys of the evening...

Brandon Berns- Pittsburgh Heart Walk Director and my friend from college.  Representing Slippery Rock University!

 

 My boyfriend, whom I owe so much to.  For turning the bad in my life into positives, for supporting me and my AHA efforts, and all of the encouragement day in and day out.

And of course- Charlie Batch, Quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers!  (The picture is blurry because Alan was supposedly "so nervous" around him haha)



This is just proof that not only hard work, but in this case "heart" work pays off in the end!

2012 Heart Walk

On November 3, 2012, the Mafia dominated once more.  This year had a slow start.  I was worried.  Nervous.  Scared.  Upset...but I understood.  The first year you do something like this, everyone is quick to show their support for your lost loved one.  But as you continue the tradition, people realize that you're in it for the long run and they don't want to be caught up in feeling like they "have" to donate and dish out money year after year for your cause.  But I am blessed with amazing people in my life and that's who I've learned to surround myself with.  Ron's Mustache Mafia was well-known in our area now, as well as in the Pittsburgh community.  I don't know why mustaches became so popular this year, but I bet my dad had something to do with it.  His way of telling me and my team to keep up the great work.  So we did!

Like I said before, our first year stirred up quite the competition.  We were neck and neck with another team, fighting to raise the most money for the American Heart Association.  Some people just need to hear "for a good cause" to donate.  But others need something (more than their life apparently) to fight for.  And if first place sounds good to them, then I'll accept!  I hated the thought of competition at first and didn't want my team to get caught up in that kind of excitement.  But I realized that if competition is what raises the money needed to fund research and heart health awareness... then I'm in!  And I had a whole band of mustaches with me. 



Clint Hurdle was this year's co-chair for the event.  Everyone who knows me knows what a huge fan I am of Pirates Baseball!  So when Clint was welcoming everyone to the event that chilly November morning and gave the Mafia a shout-out on stage, I was in HEAVEN!!!  He told us that we better take the mustaches off as soon as the event ended because we were "freaking [him] out!" Haha  I just threw up the ZOLTAN and pressed my stache on harder:)  The event was, once again, a success.  We had a beautiful day with dedicated walkers that I will never forget.



So the fight was on.  It continued past the date of the heart walk and we really didn't know the final totals until the Awards Ceremony at Le Mont on top of Mt. Washington, in which I got the surprise of a lifetime!  The results were in.  I'm not surprised that we raised $8,190.00 or that we were named the Top Community Team of the Pittsburgh Heart Walk for the second year in a row.  But what I didn't know when I showed up to the ceremony was that we were the Top Community Team in the STATE of Pennsylvania!  (Community Team of the Year) Beating our rival city, Philadelphia!  I couldn't believe what I was seeing or hearing as the announcer described my team and our efforts/accomplishments.  So yeah- if competition is what gets the money raised, so be it!  I'm walking a little taller each year and meeting many amazing individuals along the way with the same dedication and passion for heart health awareness.



I want to thank my amazing team for all of their hard work this year.  We had to push a little more, but it was all worth it in the end.  And most importantly- to everyone who donated.  Without you, we wouldn't be where we are today, and neither would heart and stroke research.  God bless.