This weekend, thousands will join the fight against heart disease and strokes. Many walking in the American Heart Associations Start Heart Walk have been personally affected by heart disease. That includes a woman who's made it her mission to mend broken hearts.

Cathy Byington walks the hallways of Avera Heart Hospital almost daily. She's a volunteer here with "The Mended Hearts" program.

"We know what's going on and we can sympathize with those that are going through it at the moment," Byington said.

Because she's been through it.  An enlarged heart led to a mitral valve replacement and then a heart transplant.

"Up until that night when I got into trouble, I had been very heathy," Byington said.

So now she's an advocate for the heart and every week meets patients recovering from heart surgery.

"Sometimes they're more able to share their questions with us than they might be with their doctors or nurses," Byington said.

Her experience six-and-half years ago is why she's participating in this weekend's Start Heart walk in Sioux Falls. All of the money raised will help fight heart disease and stroke.

On top of volunteering, she says it's her way of giving back.

"I think probably heart disease has affected everybody. It's right up there with cancer. It's a horrible thing and to be able to get on top of it a little bit, raise awareness, it's the best," Byington said.

To learn more about this Saturday's heart walk in Sioux Falls, we've set up a link below:

American Heart Association

Heart disease is America's number one killer. In fact, millions of Americans of all ages are living with risk factors that increase their chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke.