Ryan Scherff

I run to raise awareness for congenital heart defects (CHD) and the research provided through The Children's Heart Foundation. I am driven by passion, and personal experience.

When my son was just a baby, I rushed him to the hospital, handed him to strangers, and waited for hours - knowing his chest was open, knowing his heart was stopped. I waited for days for him to breathe on his own again. It was the most terrifying experience of my life, and the beginning of his difficult journey and lifelong battle with CHD.

CHD affects nearly 40,000 babies each year in the U.S. alone. Two times as many children die from CHD than all forms of pediatric cancer combined. There is no cure. However, thanks to continued research, medical care and treatment has advanced - and infants with CHD are living longer and healthier lives!

My goal for 2022 is 1,000+ miles and $5,000. As always, this one is for you, son!

2022 Personal Summits

1,000+ miles in events all through the year.

1. Challenge in Motion My Best Year Challenge – ends 12/31/22

2. Fleet Feet St Louis Snowball Series Race 4 5K – February

3. Fleet Feet St. Louis Snowball Series race 5 4M – February

4. The Children’s Heart Foundation’s St Louis Congenital Heart Walk 1M – October

My Inspiration

The Children's Heart Foundation was founded in 1996 and is the country's leading organization solely dedicated to funding congenital heart defect (CHD) research. Their mission is to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital heart defects by funding the most promising research.

The Children’s Heart Foundation has funded over $15 million of CHD research and scientific collaborations— driving breakthroughs that have improved survival rates, longevity, and quality of life for individuals living with CHDs in dramatic and life-changing ways. In many cases, we’ve provided start-up funding for research that’s gone on to earn support from larger entities such as the National Institutes of Health or the U.S. Department of Defense, along with pharmaceutical and/or medical device industries. The research we fund is truly moving the needle.

With your support, we are saving lives and Placing Children at the Heart of Research.

100% of donations go to The Children's Heart Foundation!

Keep Climbing Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves children and U.S. Veterans by hosting fundraising mountain climbs for various charities year-round. Our mission is to help both our climbers and our beneficiaries reach their personal summits by supporting them as they overcome life’s obstacles.

This tradition started in 2015 when The Home Loan Expert took a team to Mt. Rainier for the inaugural Climb for the Kids. Now, Keep Climbing Foundation continues this mission to help inspire others to #KeepClimbing!

And thanks to the generous support of The Home Loan Expert, Hero Loan, and our other corporate sponsors, 100% of our donations go directly to the charities we support.

Want to join an event or become a KCF Athlete?

Go to KeepClimbingFoundation.org/Champions

KCF Champions: Ryan Scherff

By Keep Climbing Foundation

KCF Champions: Ryan Scherff

I am proud to be a KCF Champion for The Children's Heart Foundation this year - the country's leading organization solely dedicated to funding congenital heart defect (CHD) research.