Letter to the Editor: Putnam HeartWalk, Life Measured in Heartbeats

Letter to the Editor: Putnam HeartWalk by Mike McDonald

On July 17th my family, my town, FOP Lodge 704, Council 6318, the Stephen P. Driscoll Memorial Pipe Band,the Ladies Auxiliary, countless other organizations, and my country lost an incredible giant of a man, James O'Neill to this terrible disease. He was irreplaceable and we are still trying to find our way through the dark without his light. Help us to save someone, somewhere like J.O. did every day. The Fraternal Order of Police Stephen P Driscoll Lodge 704, one of Jimmy's loves and a wonderful organization led by JoAnn Gervasi Viola is having heart walk in his memory. My daughter Caitlin wrote a letter on the website that will touch you when you open it up which i also include here. Please consider either joining the team or donating to it. All the info is on the link below.


The following is a letter written by Caitlin McDonald:


Everything in our lives can be measured in heartbeats. We hear it in our ears when we step onto the graduation stage or walk down the aisle. The only thing we wish for at the end of our lives is more time with our friends & family, a few more heartbeats.


But diseases like Chronic Heart Failure steal thousands, if not millions of those beats away from those we love. Lives that are just beginning are cut short. Jim O’Neill was a man who lived his life to the absolute fullest. Every second, every breath, every beat he gave to his family and his community. He could feel his heart beat when he joined New York’s Finest. He felt it when he married the love of his life, and the day he met his son. All who knew him would agree, every day he was here the world was a better place.And the loss of him has left a hole where he should be.

What we want, and why we walk, is to give the world more heartbeats. Along with the American Heart Association, we want to lengthen lives by saving hearts. Research in this field will be able to give a few more beats for honeymoons,for birthdays, and to live life as long as we deserve to, longer than we have now. So, for all of the time that we wish we had left with those who have gone before us, and for all of those whose hearts still need saving, we walk.
For heartbeats.
For moments.
For life.
YOU HAVE FOUR CHOICES -
1) YOU CAN WALK-
here are exact instructions on how to sign up and join our FOP DRISCOLL team for the heart walk., Follow their instructions!
www.PutnamHeartWalk.org

  • Select Register on the top right hand side of web page.
  • Join a Team
  • Choose Join a Team if you want to be a member of an existing team.
  • Search for FOP DRISCOLL 704. Then click the Select button. Click Join to sign up as a member of that team.


2) YOU CAN SPONSOR SOMEONE TO WALK WHICH IS ON THE WEBSITE- HERE IS MY LINK FOR EXAMPLE
3) YOU CAN CHEER US ON SUNDAY APRIL 23RD 9AM REGISTRATION 10AM WALK BREWSTER HIGH SCHOOL TRACK
4) YOU CAN MAKE EXCUSES. What would J.O. do?

 

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Submitted by Brewster, NY

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