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REAL STORIES

Every heart has a story.

Behind every screening, every fundraiser, and every gift to Strive for Life is a family who knows how quickly life can change when a hidden heart condition goes undetected.

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WHY STORIES MATTER

These families remind us what is at stake.

Sudden cardiac arrest and undiagnosed heart conditions can affect children, teens, and young adults who appear completely healthy. Many families never receive a warning sign before a crisis.

These real stories help explain why Strive for Life Foundation exists: to raise awareness, expand access to heart screenings, and help more families find hidden risks before there is an emergency.

HEAR THEIR STORIES

Powerful stories, told by the families who lived them.

These videos are the heart of this page. They help families understand why awareness, prevention, and access to youth heart screenings matter so deeply.

2026 Beats for Beats Mission Video

A powerful video shared at the 2026 Beats for Beats gala, bringing together the real families and stories behind Strive for Life’s mission.

Shannon’s Full Story

Shannon shares the story of her daughter, Zoe Grace, and the heartbreak that became a mission to help protect other young hearts.

Ashley’s Story

Ashley’s story is a powerful reminder that a young person can appear healthy while still carrying an undetected heart risk.

FAMILY VOICES

Real families. Real impact.

Click each story below to read more about the families who inspire this mission.

Shannon’s story is one of unimaginable loss, courage, and purpose. After losing her daughter, Zoe Grace, Shannon has helped turn heartbreak into action by supporting efforts that give other families the opportunity to learn more about their child’s heart.

Her message is simple and powerful: if greater awareness and access to heart screenings can help another family avoid tragedy, then sharing Zoe’s story matters.

Why it matters: Hidden heart conditions are often silent. Awareness gives families a reason to ask questions before something happens.

Ashley’s family experienced the terrifying reality that a young person can appear healthy and active while still carrying an undetected heart risk. These stories are difficult, but they are exactly why this mission matters.

By helping families understand that routine physicals do not always uncover hidden heart conditions, Strive for Life works to support education, prevention, and access to screenings that may reveal risks earlier.

Why it matters: Many children with heart risks have no obvious symptoms. Looking deeper can make a difference.

Some stories begin with loss. Others begin with a screening that gives a family answers they did not know they needed. Both are part of the reason Strive for Life Foundation continues working to protect more young hearts.

When a hidden issue is found before an emergency, families have the chance to seek follow-up care, ask better questions, and make informed decisions.

Why it matters: Prevention is not about fear. It is about giving families information, access, and time.
Awareness Helping parents understand hidden heart risks
Access Supporting screenings for families and communities
Action Turning family stories into prevention
BE PART OF THE NEXT STORY

Help another family learn what they cannot see.

Your support helps Strive for Life Foundation expand access to youth heart screenings and raise awareness about hidden heart conditions before tragedy strikes.

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Our Relationship with My HeartCheck

The Strive for Life Foundation exists to help protect children from undiagnosed heart conditions by expanding access to professional heart screenings, especially in high-need  communities.

  • My HeartCheck provides the clinically based heart screening services for youth, including EKGs and echocardiograms with medical review by pediatric cardiologists.

  • Strive for Life Foundation raises charitable funds to help ensure that cost is not a barrier for families or communities in need.

The two organizations are separate and independently governed, with distinct roles:

  • My HeartCheck operates as a medical services provider.

  • Strive for Life Foundation determines how and where charitable funds are used to support screenings.

Charitable contributions to Strive for Life Foundation may be used to:

  • Provide financial assistance to qualifying families through an application-based aid program

  • Support fully funded heart screening events in high-need communities.

When Strive for Life Foundation supports screenings, it does so under a written service agreement at fair market value, just as it would with any qualified provider. This structure ensures transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of donor funds.

This approach allows us to:

  • Deliver high-quality medical screenings efficiently

  • Target charitable dollars to families and communities with the greatest need

  • Maintain clear accountability and separation between charitable fundraising and medical service delivery

Our focus is simple: helping more children receive life-saving heart screenings.