IRONMAN Triathlon for Healing Little Hearts

University of Michigan medical students Alex Perez, Austin Cornish and Sayhaan Goraya, and Umich alum Jason Figueroa are training for IRONMAN 140.6 Wisconsin on September 7th 2025 to raise funds and awareness for congenital heart disease patients with limited access to specialized cardiac care. For the last 10+ years, the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center has joined forces with Gift of Life International to provide life-saving care for children with congenital heart defects at El Salvador's Benjamin Bloom National Children's Hospital.

Help us support this effort and find out more below!

Our mission:

Each year, over 1.3 million children are born with a congenital heart defect, and 93% of them are in countries where treatment is unavailable. In El Salvador, around 600 children every year are born with a heart defect that will require treatment.

This September, a team of University of Michigan healthcare providers including Dr. Richard Ohye (congenital heart surgeon) and Dr. Gabe Owens (pediatric cardiologist)will return to El Salvador. Their mission is to provide care and equip local doctors and nurses with the tools, training, and support that is necessary to care for El Salvador’s most vulnerable children.

University of Michigan Medical students have supported this effort in the past, and this year Alex, Austin, Sayhaan and Jason are continuing the legacy of support for this special initiative and taking on the challenge of completing IRONMAN Wisconsin.This arduous event includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run. We invite you to donate to our fund and help us support our team in delivering life saving care to children in need.

Your donation matters and has real impact:

$500: enough nutritional supplements to support a malnourished child with a heart defect for five months

$5,000: six perfusion packs to enable six children to have the open-heart surgery they need or provide five children with the catheterization procedures they need

$10,000: twelve perfusion packs to enable twelve children to have the open-heart surgery they need

Beyond expensive medical supplies, many of these children need basic necessities, including clothes, diapers, and food.

Your donation directly impacts patients in need:

Gift of Life International is a BBB accredited charity, has the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator, and your money does not contribute to the healthcare team’s travel expenses.

Find out more about the organization we are working with here:

Healing Little Hearts In El Salvador