{"id":291531,"date":"2025-11-14T17:22:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T17:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/291531\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T17:22:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T17:22:24","slug":"downtime-running-with-a-hospital-and-a-hokie-at-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/291531\/","title":{"rendered":"Downtime: Running with a hospital, and a Hokie, at heart"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"FullSizeRender<\/a><\/p>\n

The Pace Makers at the Ukrop\u2019s Monument Avenue 10k. (Photos courtesy Zach Goode)<\/p>\n

When the Richmond marathon gets underway this weekend, a group raising funds for the children\u2019s hospital\u2019s heart center will also be running with the memory of one of their colleagues\u2019 relatives close to their hearts.<\/p>\n

The group of cardiology staff members from the Children\u2019s Hospital of Richmond at VCU<\/a> are running as the CHoR \u201cPace Makers\u201d in support of the hospital\u2019s Double Goode Heart Fund, a fundraising campaign in honor of Josh Goode, the late brother of cardiologist and Pace Makers co-founder Zach Goode.<\/p>\n

Josh, who was born with a rare heart defect and was one of the first babies in Virginia to undergo a successful surgery for it at UVA University Hospital, died last year from complications stemming from a triple organ transplant of his heart, liver and kidney.<\/p>\n

\"Josh<\/a><\/p>\n

Josh Goode in his time with the Marching Virginians, where he was a member of the VTubas.<\/p>\n

To honor his older brother\u2019s memory, and to support CHoR research and programs for the next generation of children with heart conditions, Zach formed Pace Makers with fellow CHoR physician Christopher Snyder, chief of pediatric cardiology at the hospital, and Daniel Cannone, a comfort and palliative care doctor.<\/p>\n

The group has grown to include their spouses and CHoR colleagues and is open to anyone who wants to support the heart center and the fund. Since forming last year, the Pace Makers have raised over $6,300 toward the fund\u2019s $25,000 endowment goal, with members running in last year\u2019s Allianz Richmond Marathon and associated half marathon and 8k, as well as the Ukrop\u2019s Monument Avenue 10k and other events.<\/p>\n

For Zach, the Pace Makers have become a welcome outlet to support the hospital while also celebrating Josh, the oldest of four brothers and a proud 2004 graduate of Virginia Tech, where he was a member of the Marching Virginians and played tuba with the VTubas, who gave him the nickname \u201cSouthpaw.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe and I are the two lefties in the family,\u201d Zach noted.<\/p>\n

\"Zach<\/a><\/p>\n

Zach Goode<\/p>\n

\u201cHe left his mark wherever he was. I think one of the hard things whenever you go through that is trying to figure out a way to honor and remember the person. I am a little bit of a doer in that I try to think of ways that can both benefit other people but also be something that they would be proud of. That\u2019s where this idea came up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zach, 41, said he had always been a recreational runner but got into marathons with his husband, Jeremy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never been a competitive runner per se; just to keep healthy and keep active, but also it\u2019s a natural activity to go along with cardiology and promoting cardiology itself,\u201d Zach said.<\/p>\n

As stated on the Double Goode Heart Fund\u2019s webpage, Zach\u2019s role on the fetal cardiology team \u2013 as a pediatric cardiologist and congenital cardiologist, and as director of the cardiac non-invasive imaging system \u2013 \u201cserves as a poignant continuation of Josh\u2019s legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh was born with a single ventricle heart defect, a rare condition affecting about five out of 100,000 newborns that required intricate surgery just days after his birth. His successful surgery at UVA allowed Josh \u201cto thrive and flourish for decades,\u201d marrying his wife Robyne and remaining an avid fan of the Hokies and Virginia Tech football until his death at age 43.<\/p>\n

The Double Goode Heart Fund celebrates \u201cJosh\u2019s incredible strength in overcoming his heart defect,\u201d the webpage states. Zach said the name is inspired by the Bedford County farm they grew up on, where Josh developed a love for Holstein cows.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Double Goode Farm was the name of the farm growing up, and that was Josh\u2019s other big love outside of the Hokies,\u201d Zach said.<\/p>\n

\"Pace<\/a><\/p>\n

Group members sporting their Pace Makers shirts.<\/p>\n

With the Pace Makers participating in Saturday\u2019s marathon, half marathon and 8k, Zach said it will be the latest opportunity for the group to get its name out there and raise awareness and funds for CHoR and the heart center. The group has come up with a logo and is making T-shirts for those wanting to run with them or show their support.<\/p>\n

\"PaceMakersLogo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an open team per se, and anybody that wants to be a part of the team \u2013 and even just sharing the link, sharing the webpage \u2013 is welcome too,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Heart Fund is really to support all of the children\u2019s hospital heart center, and 100% of the proceeds go to research endeavors and new startup ideas, so that we can be at the front end of the innovation in pediatric cardiology.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for how the group has added to his day job personally, Zach said: \u201cI think the Pace Makers gives us a little bit of an outlet to bring community into our job. I think all of us have varying levels of stressful jobs, and it\u2019s just kind of a nice communal outlet to enjoy each other outside of the workforce and outside of the trials and tribulations of being in the hospital every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

More info about the Double Goode Heart Fund is available on the webpage<\/a>, where donations also can be made. Donations for the Pace Makers in Saturday\u2019s marathon specifically can be made via the CHoR website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is the latest installment in our Downtime series, which focuses on businesspeople\u2019s pursuits outside of the office. If you, a coworker or someone you know around town has a unique way of passing time off the clock, submit suggestions to Jonathan@RichmondBizSense.com. For previous installments of Downtime, click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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