While at your Start! Heart Walk event, you may notice people wearing red caps that read, “Fighting Back.” These people are Red Cap Survivors and worthy of your recognition. They’ve survived either heart disease or stroke and they walk to support the American Heart Association and its continued efforts to research, fight and educate about these conditions. Grant Manyette is one of these survivors.

Within days after Grant was born in March 2000, his parents and doctors noticed him turning blue. Soon the doctors diagnosed Grant with tetralogy of Fallot — a congenital heart defect that kept his blood from pumping properly through his heart.

Over the next several months, Grant underwent four heart operations and one open-heart surgery. Grant's medical condition took his family on a frightening journey of despair, hope and celebration.

At five months old, as he was being discharged, Grant 'flat-lined' in the hospital parking lot. When his mother and nurse noticed he'd stopped breathing, they both immediately began CPR. "One month earlier, I took an American Heart Association Infant CPR course. I'm so glad I took the course so I could help save my baby's life," said Grant's mom, Rita Manyette.

Through it all, Grant's engaging smile let everyone know he would be all right.  

Walk for yourself or for those who can’t

Many participants like Grant Manyette are heart disease and stroke survivors. But not just survivors walk. Many participants walk in honor or memory of a friend or family member who has or had heart disease or stroke.

Funds raised from the Heart Walk will support heart and stroke research and education programs.  Research funded by the American Heart Association has yielded important discoveries such as CPR, life-extending drugs, pacemakers, bypass surgery and surgical techniques to repair heart defects. These and other advances are making it possible for many to call themselves "survivors."

Get involved

Call today to become an active volunteer or to learn more about the Red Caps. Contact your nearest American Heart Association representative or call 1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721).