When the opportunity to be part of the American Heart Association Women of Impact appeared, initially Nikki Duncan was terrified. She eventually agreed.
“When I started thinking about all of the people in my life I know of who have had heart-related diseases or issues—like [Susan Chance’s] daughter Vail [Johnson], who our daughters rode horses together when they were little bitty— I thought about them,” Duncan said. “… I thought, well, who am I? I've been tapped to do this. Who am I to not step forward and try to raise awareness and money for this? Because the mission for the American Heart Association is all about awareness, research and heart health.'
Chance, who created the Friends of Vail foundation with her husband after the unexpected passing of their daughter in 2016, has been raising awareness too.
The scavenger hunt seemed fitting, and Chance was happy to participate.
“I'm excited that we're doing this in Pilot Point because that was her hometown,” she said. “It's our community, and the support from the community has been amazing.”
Ducan with the American Heart Association Woman of Impact, in partnership with Susan Chance of Friends of Vail, hopes to raise awareness about heart health, the importance of eating healthy, exercising and being informed.
'In Vail’s situation, hers was a little bit different in that she wasn't unhealthy,” Chance said. “She had an extremely rare form of myocarditis. However, it does tie into it because she's no longer with us anymore, and I hope people are aware that our life is fleeting, and we must take every day and be good to our bodies and good to our soul, and dig into our faith. Those would be the takeaways for me to know that each day is a blessing and to honor our bodies by being good to them.'
The Happy Heart Scavenger Hunt will be from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday in Downtown Pilot Point.
There will be health facts at this family-friendly event, along with gift bags for the first 50 people to complete the scavenger hunt.
Hearty, the mascot, will also be in attendance.
Ducan shared that it will also promote shopping at and supporting local businesses such as Southern Junkiez, Martin General Store and Notoriously Yours.
Proceeds from Saturday’s event will go to the American Heart Association.
For those unable to donate or attend, Duncan has created a family-friendly book series published on Amazon called “And, Her Heart Whispered,” a story about a dressage rider who develops myocarditis inspired in part by Vail.
All royalties will be donated to the campaign.
During the event, Susan will read short stories written by Vail.
“Even though some of her stories were funny and witty and about different characters, they all tend to revolve around friendship and kindness and being a good friend, because that's who she was,” Chance said. “…We've been super proud of her writing because all of it ties back to that.'
Chance went on to add how Vail expressed her creativity at a very young age.
'She was all about sharing her heart,' Susan said, reflecting on her youngest. 'And that's what she did. And she put it on paper. Thank goodness, because we have it all.”
Copies of Vail’s books are available online through the Friends of Vail Foundation.
