Northbrook Nonprofit Hosting Annual Congenital Heart Walk In Chicago

NORTHBROOK, IL — Since 1996, The Children’s Heart Foundation has funded $16.5 million dollars of congenital heart defect research. The Northbrook non-profit is set to host its annual Chicago Congenital Heart Walk on Saturday, June 8, at Lincoln Park.

According to The Children's Heart Foundation, 40,000 babies, or 1 child every 15 minutes, is born in the U.S. with a CHD. This makes it America's most common and deadly birth defect. The walk, which will take place across from the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, is the nation's largest walk series solely dedicated to raising money to fund CHD research.

Not all heat defects are discovered early on in a child's life. For example, Dr. Tiffanie Jeffrey, a volunteer with The Children's Heart Foundation, got involved when her 9-year-old son, Dylan, had open-heart surgery at the age of 9.

"After Dylan's surgery, I just knew I had to give back to the foundation that helped to save my son's life," Jeffrey said. "I’ve co-chaired the Chicago walks for the last two years, and it's so meaningful to join other families who are on this journey."

This year's event includes a 1-mile family-friendly walk, research remarks, kids' activities, games, character actors, refreshments, music, remembrance, and more.

Visit https://events.chfwalk.org/event/chicagoil to get started as a fundraising walker, team captain, volunteer, or donor. Learn more about The Children's Heart Foundation here.