When the annual Lehigh Valley Heart Walk steps off at the SteelStacks complex, Bethlehem, on Sept. 22, a local boy thriving with a congenital heart defect will lead the way.

Wyatt Yaworski, 2, of South Whitehall, and his family want to inspire others with heart disease and encourage support for the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Erin and Chris Yaworski vowed not to find out the sex of their baby when they went for the 20-week ultrasound. They wanted it to be a surprise.

The biggest surprise came when doctors found something wrong with their baby’s heart and referred them for a fetal echocardiogram. The test revealed their baby, a boy, would be born with a congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome and would need to undergo a series of three open heart surgeries early in life to survive.

Wyatt Yaworski, born in June 2016, underwent his first open heart surgery at just 4 days old.

He made it through his first big hurdle successfully and was home just 13 days after surgery.

He underwent his second open heart surgery at 5 months old.

He will need a third procedure in the future, but for now, Wyatt is living like he never had anything wrong with his heart.

He loves playing hockey and his parents look forward to watching him hit the ice with a team.

“It’s through organizations like the American Heart Association we can learn more about congenital heart defects like Wyatt’s,” said Erin Yaworski. “Their support of research will help kids like Wyatt and their doctors understand how this happens and hopefully prevent it sometime in the future.”

The Yaworski family will share their story during Lehigh Valley Heart Walk opening ceremonies and kick off the walk from the starting line.

Heart Walk festivities begin 10:30 a.m. The walk steps off at noon.

The Heart Walk is part of the American Heart Association’s Healthy For Good movement to encourage sustainable healthy lifestyle changes.

The Lehigh Valley Heart Walk is supported locally by Lehigh Valley Health Network, Coordinated Health, PSECU, Lutron, B. Braun Medical, Cohen Feeley Altemose and Rambo, and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital.

For more information about the Lehigh Valley Heart Walk, or to sign up to participate, visitheart.org/lehighvalleywalk or call 484-245-6262.