Photo courtesy of the Carella Family.
In 2010, Mia and Fred Carella welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Evalyn, to the world. Shortly after birth, Evalyn was transferred to a pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit due to complications from a congenital heart defect that was diagnosed prenatally. By the age of two, Evalyn had undergone two open heart surgeries, three cardiac catheterizations, a stent placement and countless other tests and procedures.
On Friday, September 30, the Carellas will walk to raise awareness about congenital heart disease as Evalyn serves as survivor ambassador for the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s Central New Jersey Heart Walk at Arm & Hammer Park, Home of the Trenton Thunder, in Trenton, NJ. Heart Walk, nationally sponsored by Subway, is held at 250 locations nationwide.
The Central New Jersey Heart Walk, locally sponsored by NRG Energy, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, NJM Insurance Group, WIMG 1300 AM, WWFM 89.1 FM and JazzOn2, brings hundreds of Mercer and Middlesex County families, organizations and businesses together annually for a fun event filled with cardiovascular wellness. This year, the event will take place in the evening, the first-ever nighttime Heart Walk in New Jersey.
Photo courtesy of Thomas Kelly.
As survivor ambassador of the event, Evalyn and her family will help rally businesses, community groups and individual walkers to support the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. They will share their story with attendees on walk day, as well as assemble their own walk team, Team Evalyn, to raise critical funds to support heart and stroke research.
“It’s our hope to bring some comfort and awareness to parents who may get the devastating news that their child has a heart issue,” state Mia and Fred Carella, Evalyn’s parents. “It’s thanks to the research and medical advancements funded by the American Heart Association that our beautiful, strong daughter is doing so well.”
Heart Walks are the signature community event for the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association focused on raising funds to support the fight against heart disease and stroke – our nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 leading causes of death. The Heart Walk is designed to promote physical activity and heart-healthy living through a fun environment that’s rewarding for the entire family.
To learn how you can join Evalyn and the Carella family at the American Heart Association Central New Jersey Heart Walk, visit www.CentralNJHeartWalk.org, call 609.208.0020 or email [email protected].