Florida Tech April 19 Walkathon to Fund Heart Transplant

MELBOURNE, FLA.—The Florida Institute of Technology Nathan M. Bisk College of Business (COB) is sponsoring a walkathon to raise part of the $1 million needed for a new heart for the mother of Florida Tech business student Yielleen St. Amour. Walkers and supporters are encouraged to join in this event Friday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

St. Amour’s mother has been dedicated for the past 32 years to helping the disenfranchised women of Haiti by guiding them toward self-sufficiency. The 54- year-old Haitian native was diagnosed with severe cardiomyopathy shortly after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. She was recently told by a team of heart specialists that she has only 12 months to live unless she receives the life-saving operation.

The plight resonated with Andrew Cudmore, COB associate professor, who lost his father to heart disease and his mother to cancer.

He said, “Yielleen’s struggles resonated with my own memories of the pain and the feeling of helplessness with regard to the loss of my own mother recently to cancer. I had a spur of the moment thought of what could I do, what skills could I offer? A walkathon popped into my head. I am so pleased at how fast our students, staff, alumni, and people from the community have been willing to help.”

The short walkathon will begin at Panther Plaza and end at the SUB Café on campus. There will be a DJ, donations table, and snack and water for walkers. Spectators will also be able to purchase light snacks and beverages from Food Services.

Donations can also be made through the Give Forward online fundraising website at http://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/b032/savemarieslife?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fb_wall&utm_campaign=vanity_page&og_action=hug&fb_ref=806566.