Team Liam 2011 is here!

Help us support research and awareness for congenital heart defects (CHD’s) – TEAM LIAM. Liam is our heart hero, who has inspired us to get involved for his cause and take action!

Many of you have been following Liam’s journey from the very beginning, and know our ups and downs along the way. Liam was diagnosed at birth with a rare congenital heart defect (CHD), Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia. He has had to undergo three open heart surgeries during his life, and we expect to have a few more in his future.

What you may not realize however, is just how many people are affected by congenital heart defects. Approximately 1 in every 100 babies are born with a CHD – that means more than 1,000,000 babies worldwide per YEAR are born with a CHD. Sadly, CHD’s are the number ONE cause of infant deaths in the U.S. From multiple surgeries, to heart transplants, children born with CHD’s face a lifetime of challenges, as the search for a cure and better treatment options still loom.

Through research, there is hope for Liam to possibly not have to undergo ANY MORE open heart surgeries. But we need your help. Despite the millions of children affected, research for CHD’s remains severely underfunded. We are choosing to benefit the Children’s Heart Foundation (CHF) because their purpose is to directly finance grants used solely for CHD research – they have already donated thousands of dollars towards research for Liam’s specific condition and treatment alone. We need your help to continue these efforts and help us to raise awareness and funds for CHD research.
So what is TEAM LIAM? TEAM LIAM is a group of runners, Dustin and I included, that will be running in the Dallas White Rock Marathon on December 4, 2011 to help raise funds for the Children’s Heart Foundation through sponsorships and donations. We need runners and sponsors to reach our goal of raising $10,000 for CHF. You may donate online here at our giving page, which is 100% safe and secure.

Individual sponsors donating $100 or more will receive a TEAM LIAM t-shirt! Corporate sponsors donating $500 or more will be recognized with their name and company logo on our running jerseys, t-shirts and throughout our campaign on our blog and in letters and emails.

And last, but definitely not least, there is ALWAYS the gift of prayer. We still have a long journey ahead, but we are BLESSED to have friends and family to support us. We thank you for making a difference in Liam’s life and for helping to spread the word about CHD’s!

For more information on how you can support TEAM LIAM and to read about Liam's journey with his CHD, please visit our website at www.johnsonheartbeat.com