Lowcountry Heart Walk - 2014

ABC News Channel 4, Charleston, S.C.

Adorable children, cute dogs and heart disease survivors and their loved ones, I couldn't really go wrong with photo ops. I was up bright and early to join the Lowcountry Heart Walk at Liberty Square. It was grand to see so many familiar faces gathered together to raise money for the cause. More photos uploading here: Lowcountry Heart Walk 2014

Floating hearts for a cause

Charleston, S.C.

Each and every heart is fluttering in the breeze in honor or in memory of someone who has/had heart disease. Some of them even have a loved one's name tucked inside. I've had crafty volunteers sewing them to hang on one of the trees at the hospital raising money for the Lowcounty Heart Walk tomorrow morning. It looks so pretty I will have a hard time taking them down! Many thanks to all the sponsors and my model above, Amber Defago from the American Heart Association.

I believe that research into heart disease has certainly paid off. For the most part we know what we need to be doing to prevent heart disease and procedures have been developed to treat so many heart conditions. It's good to be on a successful team! Additional donations won't offend me at all: Lowcountry Heart Walk - Team Walk this Way.

Go Red for Heart Disease Awareness

Go Red, Charleston, S.C.

I was taking a group picture of Go Red for Heart Disease Awareness Day when one of my hospital volunteers mentioned she was a survivor. I said, "We are doing this for you!" Little did I know, not only was she was a survivor of nine years after quadruple bypass surgery but it was her birthday. Happy birthday Mary!

Take care of your hearts folks. Aim to eat healthy, get some exercise and take care of yourself!

Charleston Heart Ball - 2013

Charleston Heart Ball, Charleston Marriott, S.C.

The Charleston SC Heart Ball was held last night at the Marriott Hotel and my friend Amber from the American Heart Association asked me to fill a new role - Red Carpet photographer. How fun! I got to line up all the good looking people, admire their outfits and take their picture. I am watching the Academy Award Red Carpet pre-show and I think lowcountry women held their own very well!

The event includes a silent and live auction of art and wine and it is one of my favorite causes. Take care of your precious heart ladies and gentlemen. I love all the cardiologists and health care providers in attendance but you'd rather not need them. 

Who knows where the treasure is?

Charleston, S.C.

It's clear who knows where the treasure is! The crazy little pirate dog!

I plan to take over 700 people to the Lowcountry Heart Walk in September and our theme is "Fiercely Protecting Your Heart". Participants campaign to be our Pirate King or Queen and call me to help stage their photo op. As we did in years past with our infamous Men in Red dresses, we tend to get carried away.

This group includes Cap'n Sarah Sparrow, Cap'n Diesel Dino and Private Bow Wow and represents our Rehab Team. They had they brilliant idea to include the dog and his expressions cracked me up. We went out to the pond at the back of our parking lot at the hospital and took their campaign photos today.

I like the American Heart Association because half the people I know and love wouldn't be here today without the advances that have been made in the awareness and treatment of heart disease. Join us! The little pup's expression has been good for my heart already!

G'night kids. I have to be in my CEO's office at 8 a.m. so I'd best get myself to bed.

Aaaargh! Me HEARTies!

Charleston, S.C.

I had a date with a Pirate under an ancient oak tree early this morning.

Cap'n D'Angela D'Pirate is our first candidate to be Pirate King for our health system. His team will raise funds on his behalf benefiting the American Heart Association. If they raise the most money in his name he will be our King of the Pirates and lead us into battle as we storm the city at the Lowcountry Heart Walk on 9/17.

Aaargh.

Join us!

My very own mannequin

Local Coffee Shop, Hwy 61, Charleston, S.C.

A couple more from my walk this morning because they make me grin every time I look at them. How fun is this? Thanks to my friend Leah Sparks and coffee shop owner Chase, they dressed the mannequin in my honor. Not everyone can say they've had an aqua mannequin dressed for them. Coolness abounds my friends.

I think I will sleep tonight.

Lowcountry Live

Lowcountry Live, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

I started my day appearing with my CEO Allen Carroll on the Lowcountry Live show this morning. We went on to promote the American Heart Association in general but our hiker/biker challenge in particular. On Friday morning Allen Carroll will ride his bike to work at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital (about 35 miles) while I walk to work from Roper Hospital downtown (about 8 miles). Naturally we picked the hottest week of the year so far to do it. Whew.

People have been handing me cash in the hallway! Between you generous online donors and cash donations we have raised over $800 for this good cause just by getting to work. Nice! Here is the donation link: Hiker/Biker Challenge. I am personally enjoying the fact that I have raised more money than my CEO and I have some of you to thank for it! Wooohoo!

Happy Hour at O'Charley's to follow. I hope early afternoon. I'm going to need to find a shower, some clean clothes and a ride home.

Hiker vs Biker Challenge

Happy Feet PERRY vs. Hot Wheels CARROLL

Me turn down a challenge? Not likely.

My CEO, Allen Carroll was in a serious bicycle accident last year. He is an experienced long distance cyclist and was on a ride in Monks Corner when a pit bull ran out and attacked his bike. He was thrown, breaking fifteen bones. Happily for all of us, after a long and painful recovery he is back at work and back on his bike.

Mr. Carroll lives in Mount Pleasant and is aware that I am more of a walker than a biker. He threw out the challenge, that if I would walk to work from Roper Hospital in downtown Charleston to Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital (West Ashley) he would ride his bike from Mount Pleasant Hospital (closer to Awendaw).

Hmmmph. I can do that.

We figure it should take us each about two hours and we've set the date for Friday, June 24th. We are making it a fundraiser for the American Heart Association and I am accepting sponsors. How hard is that? Eight miles? You can sponsor me for $1 a mile! How affordable am I? He will have to ride about 35 miles.

I already have $50 for my cause! Ha! I set up a team page so feel free to support one of us: AHA Donation Web Site. There is probably a minimum donation on the web site so I accept cash or you can mail it directly to AHA for Hiker or Biker: American Heart Association, 409 King Street Suite 300, Charleston, SC 29403.

I went ahead and posed for the "after" shot. I definitely see a happy hour at the end of this day. Fun!

As the Pavement Turns

Charleston, S.C.

Short stories in the pavement. As Valentine's Day draws closer I can't help wondering.....

Where are they now? Does Scraper still love Fish? Did Dundee do Jock? Does Andrew bring Heidi back to their piece of pavement on anniversaries? Did Barko and Linko settle down and have little Binkos? Are Chan! & Mike! happy forever? Did "Love No One"? find the love of his life?

Luckily I can turn the corner for another episode of "As the Pavement Turns".

Heart Walk Wrap Up

Heart Walk Captain's Thank You Party, Fiery Ron's, Charleston, S.C.

I hosted a little thank you shin dig at Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ last night as a heart walk wrap up. I am the company leader for Roper St. Francis Healthcare and I have the most incredible team this year.

We were more whackily creative than ever this year with projects from cupcake decorating contests, book sales, men in red dresses, wine tastings and zumba classes. We raised over $56,500 (our goal was $40,000), had at least 700 participants and I am proud as punch.

I hosted the event, did the certificates and awards but someone turned the camera on me at the end. Thanks kids! You are great, great, great! I've seen such advances in the care and understanding of heart disease in my lifetime it is a cause I am honored to be part of and I hope you can picture me blowing kisses to any of you, my readers who contributed to the cause.

Start! Lowcountry Heart Walk - 2010

Start! Lowcountry Heart Walk, Charleston, S.C.

A few of my closest friends got up bright and early and joined me at the Heart Walk this morning. Whew...it got a little warm out there but everyone seemed to be having a great time. Adorable kids, dogs, Zumba warm up (thanks Prisca!) and I heard there was even a goat!

More photos here.

We had 695 walkers registered on our team and last I checked, had raised over $52,000 for the American heart Association. Good stuff, kids. I am so very proud of my gang of pirates. We stormed the city in style! Thanks everyone!

Wine Tasting for a Cause

Wine Tasting under the Oaks, Charleston, S.C.

I've been so busy lately, I've been tossing a few pictures on facebook instead of the blog.

It is pretty obvious I am a fierce supporter of the American Heart Association. Not sure exactly how it started but it snowballed and now I am the company leader for my health system. Looking around the people that I love, so many of them wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for advances in heart disease awareness and treatment. It makes me feel like I am on a winning team.

The Lowcountry Heart Walk is tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. starting in front of the SC Aquarium. I plan to be there with 700 people on my team and the registration site says we have raised over $50,000. Woo hoo!

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of bake sales, book sales, raffle baskets, men in red dresses, and a lovely finale last night was a wine tasting under the oak trees in the meditation garden at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital. My friend Andre Guillet offered to host the event and the tickets flew out of our hands! It was the perfect evening. Thanks to Andre, Chris, FISH Restaurant (yummy treats!), Jimihatt, Ashley Bakery, Dianna Sheridan, Mark Dickson, Tom Gardner, Charlie Black and all my incredible volunteers. Picture me blowing kisses!

You are still welcome to join the fun! Register online and walk with us, or if you are inclined you can make a donation.

Plundering for Philanthropy

Buccaneer Restaurant, Charleston, S.C.

Thanks to the Buccaneer Restaurant for offering to donate 10% from their proceeds on Talk-Like-A-Pirate day to the American Heart Association. It's a worthy cause "Me Hearties"! I appreciate their support and enjoyed a fine dinner with friends.

Calling all Pirates! 9/19

The Buccaneer Restaurant, Faber St., Charleston, SC

Calling all Pirates! Sunday, 9/19 is the high holy day for Pirates - National Talk Like a Pirate Day. The folks at Talk-Like-a-Pirate encourage Plundering for Philanthropy and the Buccaneer Restaurant has jumped on board, offering to donate 10% of their day's proceeds to the American Heart Association. Spread the word! This may be the most delicious fund raising we've ever done. Rally your family and friends, me Hearties!

If you are inclined to dress the part, gift certificate awards will be given at 6 p.m. to best adult and child pirates. I took all these photos in the restaurant so be sure to bring your camera. There is a real human skull over the bar. Aaaaargh!

Teachers, military, health care workers etc. get an extra 15% discount this month so bring your ID. See you there.

Next weekend we storm the city as Pirates at the Start! Lowcountry Heart Walk.

Join the Walk - Start! Lowcountry Heart Walk 9/25

Men in Red 2010, Charleston, S.C.

I'd really like it if y'all would consider participating in the Start! Lowcountry Heart Walk on Saturday, 9/25. I can't think of any area where research dollars have worked so many miracles, can you? I love being on the winning team. Join us. Donate a bit if you can, raise some money and join the walk.

• Bill Edwards from Harborview Exxon is going to bring his sweet red '55 Chevy convertible to lead the walk again.


• Andre' Guillet is hosting a Wine Tasting under the Oaks at St. Francis Hospital on 9/23 to raise funds that has almost sold out. Call 402-1194 to see if there are any $15 tickets left.


• Women are paying the brave gentlemen at Roper St. Francis Healthcare to wear Red Dresses to raise money for the cause. The Red Dress is the National Symbol of Heart Disease awareness. I started a little prank asking men to wear the dresses years ago and it took on an odd life of it's own and brings in quite a bit of $ for the cause. You can donate to Richard's campaign here. More photos here.


• The Buccaneer Restaurant is donating 10% of their profits on National Talk Like a Pirate Day, 9/19 - please bring your family and friends and eat there that day anytime from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Me hearties! Prizes for best Pirate costumes at 6 p.m.


• I'm working on lining up Prisca to teach everyone some Zumba moves as a warm up at the walk.

Join up or donate online at: Start! Lowcountry Heartwalk. I suspect some day we'll all be grateful for the advances made in treating heart disease. I hope you can participate! Spread the word!

Adorableness on wheels

Roper Learning Center, Trike-a-Thon, Charleston, S.C.

I stopped by the 2nd Annual Roper Learning Center Trike-a-Thon this morning and got my cute kid fix. Are they not adorable?

It was already steamy out at 9 a.m. but they kept going round and round. They were scored on laps rather than speed but you couldn't tell that by their determination. The event is a fund raiser for the American Heart Association. I'm always happy when we do something beside bake sales for the heart healthy cause!

All in a day's work, me hearties......

Charleston, S.C.

I had the hat, I had the coat, I had the saber. All I needed was a cute (ahem...) pirate. Bingo! A security guard doing routine rounds walked innocently walked by my office and I kidnapped him for my cause. Aaaargh.

After I announced that our heart walk theme was to be Pirates this year, I had to figure out a way to make it work.

Thanks to Joseph, Jennifer, Janeigh and all my pirates for posing in the heat! Whew. You were good sports.

"Fiercely Protecting Your Heart"