JOIN US FOR THE 17TH ANNUAL VALENTINES GALA

We are excited to celebrate 17 years of service in the Baton Rouge community with an extraordinary 17th Annual Valentine’s Gala fundraising event.
This year’s annual fundraiser will be held in-person on February 8, 2025 at the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel, featuring elegant dining, dancing, magnificent door prizes and live entertainment.

A group of girls posing with a soccer ball.

A group of young men posing for a photo in a basketball court.

A football player in a yellow uniform standing on a black background.

A man in a yellow hoodie is about to dunk a basketball.

The lsu women's basketball team is posing with their trophy.

A basketball player is about to shoot the ball.

A group of basketball players posing for a picture.

The girls soccer team is posing for a picture with their trophy.

A white truck with a heart on it parked in the grass.

A group of girls playing soccer on a field.

ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF COMPETITIVE ATHLETES

Jump Start Your Heart, Inc is a private 501 (c) non profit organization that will strive to enhance the quality of life of competitive athletes one by one through the dynamic power of identifying cardiovascular abnormalities and detecting the obstructive form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This condition is the most common cause of sudden death in young athletes. Also, we will educate athletes, their families, athletic staffers, and the public as a whole on the importance of cardiovascular participation screening, heart disease, nutrition and exercise.

WHAT IS HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY (HCM)?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition in which a portion of the heart becomes thickened without an obvious cause. This results in the heart being less able to pump blood effectively. Symptoms vary from none to feeling tired, leg swelling, and shortness of breath. It may also result in chest pain or fainting. Complications include heart failure, an irregular heartbeat, and sudden cardiac death. It is type of cardiomyopathy, a group of diseases that primarily affects the heart muscle. Diagnosis often involves an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and stress testing.