"My name is Ragan Lynch. I am a three-time open-heart surgery survivor, former state-contending track athlete, volleyball player, entrepreneur, and proud member of a very athletic family."
I know firsthand that someone can appear healthy on the outside while facing a serious heart condition on the inside.
Athletes Have Heart was born from my journey, but it isn't about me. It's about giving young people an opportunity to become entrepreneurs, build confidence, earn income, develop leadership skills, and help protect athletes everywhere through education and awareness.
If one conversation leads one family to seek additional heart screening and one life is saved, every bracelet shared will have been worth it.
Together, we can build leaders, strengthen communities, and help protect the hearts of the athletes we love.
Ragan Lynch
Founder, Athletes Have Heart
Why We Created This Program
Every day, young athletes step onto fields, courts, tracks, and gym floors believing they're healthy. Many families believe that a yearly sports physical is enough to ensure their child is safe to play. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.
Many heart conditions that can lead to Sudden Cardiac Arrest are not detected during a standard sports physical. Additional cardiac screening may identify certain conditions, but no screening can detect every heart problem.
As a former athlete myself, I passed every physical I was ever required to take. Yet I have survived three open-heart surgeries. That experience changed my life. It also gave me a mission.
I founded Athletes Have Heart to educate families, connect communities with trusted heart-screening resources, and empower young people to become leaders while helping spread awareness.