My name is Liz Cochran and I am Miss Alabama 2009. I just completed my junior year at Birmingham Southern College and will be beginning my senior year in the fall of 2010. I am pursuing a dance major with a biology and psychology double minor.  I am preparing to attend medical school upon graduation and hope to one day practice medicine. I would like to personally thank you for taking the time to visit my site. Welcome to "With Every Beat"!

Since high school, I have have had a passion for promoting cardiovascular disease awareness and prevention. That passion became very real for me in September of 2006, when I lost a dear friend, Meredith Ward, to cardiovascular disease. Meredith was my tap teacher at the time and at the young age of 26, she was fulfilling her long-time dream of dancing professionally. Her death demonstrates that cardiovascular disease can affect anyone at any age.

I realize that I am just one person with a heart for this extremely worthwhile platform, and there is only so much of an impact I can have alone. But with your help, my hope and belief is that we can spread awareness of this terrible disease and begin motivating people to make changes in their lives, which will in turn motivate others to do the same. We CAN fight cardiovascular disease...one heart at a time...with every beat...     

                                 Liz                

Cardiovascular disease is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States, making it imperative that our citizens take action to eradicate this silent killer. Thirty-eight percent of all deaths in the United States result from cardiovascular–related diseases which is more than the next five leading causes of death combined. Many misconceptions surround the prevention, signs, symptoms, and treatment of these diseases and contribute to the statistics that make cardiovascular disease the number one killer of Americans. My platform centers on educating the public about cardiovascular disease and making strides to improve and enhance American lives.

I have partnered with the American Heart Association to raise awareness about this disease. Many people do not know the warning signs of a heart attack or cardiac arrest, and studies show that almost half the American population cannot name even one sign of stroke. The good news is, however, that cardiovascular disease is preventable. My mission is to encourage people to have a heart-healthy diet, exercise daily, avoid smoking, and control one’s weight, blood pressure, and diabetes. My ultimate goal is that this education will lead to the improvement of the heart health of as many Americans as I can reach and a decrease of needless deaths and impairment of normal lives..