This will be the 10th year our family participates in the HeartBeat 5000. We have been very fortunate to have such generous friends and family including our Donatelle family supporting our team Donatelle . . . Making Strides for Ava. The team was created in 2007 after our daughter, Ava, was born with a life threatening congenital heart defect. Ava endured two open heart surgeries at Children’s in Minneapolis before she was a year old and, more recently, a third open heart surgery at Boston Children’s in October 2015. Ava has recovered nicely and is a happy, healthy 9 year old that brings a smile to everyone's face. We are thankful for the tremendous support in raising over $10,000 in 2015 through Donatelle’s sponsorship, team participant fees and donations to the HeartBeat 5000. Please help us in our continued commitment to support Children’s Hospital cardiac care program and the positive impact they have on so many families. This is our little way of thanking Children’s for helping our daughter Ava.