Childhood-onset heart disease impacts millions of people around the world, creating isolation, illness, and uncertainty about the future. Global ARCH is building a global community by uniting and empowering patient and family organizations to provide hope and healing for every heart.
Your generous gift will go directly to our programs so that we can help our member organizations grow their reach and advocate for improved access for our heart community. Your participation in our Hearts Around the World campaign will be showcased on our world map to demonstrate our global reach in improving the lives of patients living with these heart conditions.
How to create heart shaped path?
Your path can be a Valentine’s Day heart or an anatomical heart- don’t forget every heart is unique. Create your own path in your home city or in your travels through apps such as Strava, Garmin Connect, MapMyWalk, or other types of platforms. Please reach out to our team if you need any help create a heart-shaped path for you.
Please email Kate Doherty-Schmeck ([email protected]) to learn more!
How can I participate but not run or walk?
Support and donate to a current fundraiser!
Why are we creating heart shaped paths for walks, runs, hikes, rides, or strolls?
Childhood-onset heart disease impacts millions of people around the world leaving many to feel isolated and uncertain about their future. Global ARCH is building a global community as we believe no patient should be fighting this battle alone. Your heart paths will be put together on a map to show the global reach of our community and show this “invisible” disease



Amy Verstappen has been a patient advocate and health educator since 1996, when her own challenges living with a complex heart defect led her to the Adult Congenital Heart Association, where she served as president from 2001 to 2013. She has served as an advisor to the Centers for Disease Control the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; and the International Society for Adult Congenital Cardiac Disease, and worked with congenital heart patient and professional groups throughout the USA and the world. Ms. Verstappen received a Masters in Education in 1990 and a Masters in Global Health in 2019.