ONE MISSION: FUND MEDICAL RESEARCH THAT SAVES LIVES

Walk With DeCo is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that began in 2021 with a bold goal: walk 4,000,000 steps and raise $40,000 by year-end. Mike achieved both, launching a mission that continues today: to advance research that improves the quality of life and life expectancy of children and adults living with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS).

VEDS is a rare, genetic connective tissue disorder that can cause life-threatening vascular complications. yet research remains limited. The DeCoursey (aka "DeCo") Family knows firsthand how devastating VEDS can be. Mike suffered a limb- and life-threatening arterial dissection but was incredibly fortunate to recover and walk again. We turned that experience into something positive...Walk with DeCo, that supports innovative research to improve our understanding of the disease, advance potential treatments, and create a better future for those affected by VEDS and other genetic vascular disorders.

After six years, we've raised and donated more than $200,000 to research. 

Where Your Donations Go:

Our goal is to raise $1 million dollars over the next 5 years to fund groundbreaking research at two leading institutions.

Georgia Tech & Emory University, Led by Dr. W. Robert Taylor

Dr. W. Robert Taylor, chair of vascular medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, is leading a team of faculty and researchers at The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University to deepen scientific understanding of VEDS with a humanized mouse. This groundbreaking genetically engineered mouse model will be made available to the broader scientific community, benefitting not only VEDS research but also studies on other genetic vascular disorders, broadening its impact and scientific value.

Texas Children’s Hospital, Led by Dr. Shaine Morris, MD, MPH

Dr. Shaine Morris, MD, MPH, renowned pediatric cardiologist at Texas Children's Hospital, is leading an innovative project to create CLARITY (Collaborative for Longitudinal Aortic Research in the Young), the first database of its kind for the medical community and families living with VEDS and other rare genetic congenital heart disorders. This central repository will allow doctors and researchers to collaborate more effectively, deepen understanding of these rare diseases, and deliver better patient care. 

There are other projects being worked on such as a predictive vascular model to help anticipate vascular events, as well as an exercise study to establish evidence-based activity guidelines to improve safetey and quality of life for people living with VEDS. 

Every Step (and Dollar) Makes a Difference

Thanks to our generous community, Walk With DeCo has already raised more than $200,000 for life-savings research. Through our annual Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot in North Dallas, Trunk Show, Cookies 4 VEDS bake sale, and a Pickleball 4 VEDS tournament, we continue turning community support into scientific progress.

However, our mission is bigger than just putting on a turkey trot or a trunk show. It's about funding the medical research that can save lives. Together, these research initiatives aim to close critical gaps in VEDS research and advance discoveries that could benefit people affected by other genetic vascular diseases.

Please help us reach our $1 million goal.

Donate to Walk With DeCo