Elexa White

CRANBERRY TWP — The American Heart Association has a new spokesman for its township heart walk in September. It’s a young girl who is familiar with speaking out about and advocating for the organization.

Elexa White, 13 of Cranberry was born with ventricular septal defect, a congenital abnormality characterized by a hole in the heart.

As a result of that, her lungs filled with fluid and her heart became enlarged and began to beat at an abnormal and unsafe rhythm. Only two months old, she underwent open heart surgery and even had to wear a heart monitor to preschool.

Elexa said that because of generous donations to the heart association, she is now a “normal, healthy” teenager “looking forward to a full life ahead” with limited restrictions.

When organizers for this year’s heart walk, which will be Sept. 28 at Westinghouse Electric’s headquarters, approached her, Elexa said there was no way she could turn them down.

“I’m just glad I have this opportunity to help others lead the same life,” she said.

It’s an honor, she said, to help raise awareness that heart disease isn’t just an affliction for older people.

“It’s something that is so personal to me, something I can relate to,” she said. “I know how those people feel and what it’s like going through that. It feels good to help any way I can.”

Kristine White, Elexa’s mother, said both of her parents had heart disease as adults. But the defect hasn’t slowed down her daughter, who is about to start seventh grade at the Seneca Valley Middle School.

“We both enjoy volunteering and spreading the word about heart disease and how folks can help and support the heart association,” Kristine White said.

Barbara Roth, the heart association’s division director for Butler and Beaver counties, agreed with Elexa, saying not many people are aware that heart disease affects people of all ages.

“People think it only affects older men later in life,” Roth said. “It’s the number one killer for men and women of all ages, and it’s the number one birth defect for kids. Certainly Elexa has a story to tell and wants to share it with the community.”

Registration for the heart walk will begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 28; the event will start at 10 a.m.

Registration is available at www.heart.org/cranberrytwpwalk or by calling 724-453-1004.