Carly Tumleson's daughter Hope died from a congenital heart defect at 7 months old. Now the Tulsa mother plans to walk about a mile through Woodward Park to honor her.

Tumleson is joining the Oklahoma Congenital Heart Walk, a fundraiser hosted by The Children's Heart Foundation, KJRH reported. The one-mile walk will be held rain or shine, with organizers saying most participants finish in 30 to 45 minutes.

Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect in the United States. About 40,000 babies are born with one each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Children's Heart Foundation says that works out to about one baby every 15 minutes, and about one in four will need surgery or another life-saving procedure during their first year.

Hope got sick easily.

"She was very pale and she would get sick so easily. And you know, that's a nightmare … a cough and your mind just starts going from 0 to 100 in seconds," Tumleson told KJRH.

Tumleson told the station that events like the walk help families find support and connect with people who understand what they are going through.

Tumleson's fundraising team, Team Hope, had raised $294.97 as of the walk's online event page. Tumleson herself had raised $124.20. The walk is one of several nationwide events organized by The Children's Heart Foundation, which says it has funded nearly $21 million in congenital heart defect research and scientific collaborations through 2025.

The event will also feature a Peace and Memorial Table where families can honor children lost to heart defects. Organizers had asked families to submit photos and names by Oct. 11 for the memorial display.

Residents interested in participating can find registration and schedule details on the Oklahoma Congenital Heart Walk event page.

Upcoming community events:

  • Saturday, Oct. 17 — Oklahoma Congenital Heart Walk: Tulsa Garden Center at Woodward Park, 2435 S. Peoria Ave. Registration begins at 9 a.m., followed by an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. and the one-mile walk at 10:30 a.m rain or shine. Registration and details.