JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Over 700 students and staff at John E. Ford PreK-8th came together Tuesday for the school’s first-ever Heart Walk, decorating the halls with paper hearts and walking together to the track field in honor of National Heart Day.
Three people led the way, the school’s principal and two students.
Their stories made this march unlike anything the school has seen before.
Principal Tina Bennett underwent open-heart surgery earlier this year before returning to her students.
“I had to stay in the hospital and have open heart surgery. I was out for about 12 weeks, recovering,” Bennett said.
Tina Bennett is the principal of John E. Ford and had open-heart surgery. (Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)
Third grader Kori Phillips has faced the operating table not once, but three times.
“I had three open heart surgeries and it’s not easy to be away from your friends and family,” Kori said.
Kori Phillips is a 3rd grader who had three open-heart surgeries. (Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)
And sixth grader Parker Angiuli had open-heart surgery when he was just an infant, before he was old enough to remember it.
Walking as living examples
Together, the three of them led nearly 700 classmates around the school showing every single one of them that heart health is something worth talking about at every age.
Bennett says the experience changed her and she hopes it changes her students too.
“I know I’m in the right place being a principal, and I have influence over kids that hopefully it’ll change their lives forever. The experience I had, I know the people around me have paid attention to that. You know saying, maybe I need to get my health checked. So hopefully it’ll save some lives,” Bennett said.
Keepsakes they will carry forever
Kori and Parker may not remember every detail of their time in the hospital but they each left with something that will stay with them forever.
For Kori, a collection of beads earned during her hospital stays.
“These are all my beads. You can like put it around your neck to show,” Kori said.
For Parker, a turtle, with his hospital bracelet still attached.
Parker Angiuli had open-heart surgery when he was an infant and keeps this turtle with the hospital bracelet attached. (Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)
Two small keepsakes. Two big reminders of just how far they have both come.
Both students say they are grateful to be here and even more grateful that their stories are giving their classmates a reason to take their heart health seriously.
A message for everyone
Bennett says one of the most important steps anyone can take is getting a heart calcium test, a screening that assesses long-term risk of coronary artery disease and helps guide preventive measures before a problem develops.
And she hopes today’s walk is just the beginning, becoming an annual tradition at John E. Ford that keeps the message of heart health alive for years to come.
Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.