Chip’n Away @ Heart Disease: A Legacy of Impact

Since its founding in 2011, Chip’n Away @ Heart Disease has been a driving force in raising awareness and educating communities. After his successful heart transplant, he began to honor his donor and donor the family with his message of hope for the heart. In the first four years, we honored the assignment we were given reaching 40k individuals before Chip’s passing in October 2015.

Founder & heart transplant recipient the late Narleski "Chip" Malone and his wife of 30 years, Cynthia.

Through strategic rebranding and expanded visibility, our outreach has now impacted 78,000 individuals—not just through community engagement, but through keynote presentations, targeted campaigns, and four annual events. These initiatives empower families with knowledge, ensuring they are informed and protected from the devastating effects of heart disease.

With every effort, we turn statistics into stories of prevention, awareness, and hope. Instead of merely presenting numbers, we work actively to educate, inspire, and create change—transforming data into meaningful action. But we can’t do this alone. Your support makes this possible.

The organization has a campaign to recognize World Heart Day annually on September 29 joining the global awareness about cardiovascular diseases and promoting heart health worldwide. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in Georgia, responsible for more than 28,000 deaths per year—about 1 in 3 deaths overall. Also, this disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 941,652 deaths in 2022—more than any other cause. It surpasses all forms of cancer and accidental deaths combined, highlighting the urgent need for prevention and education. Despite advancements in treatment and prevention, the numbers remain high, reinforcing the importance of education and awareness.

Cynthia presents "Hope for the Heart" to nursing students at Macon State University.

Key risk factors high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking continue to be major contributors, with about half of all Americans having at least one of these risk factors. These silent threats often go unnoticed, increasing vulnerability to heart-related complications.

Like I always say, these numbers represent lives, families, and futures at risk. Together, we can raise awareness, educate communities, and take action against heart disease.

To Your Health, Cynthia