A local entrepreneur gave the American Heart Association an intentional gift, as well as a few stroke survivors, all to honor their journey.
TOLEDO, Ohio — Months before hundreds walked down Summit Street in downtown Toledo for the 2025 Toledo Heart Walk, entrepreneur and Vintage Sneaker Master Class creator Craig Burney had plans to bring shoes to life.
It’s common knowledge the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk brings together hundreds of men, women and children who want to spread awareness about heart health, as well as survivors and those who have lost someone to a heart-related disease.
Burney said he wanted to holistically connect the city of Toledo in a unique way.
“Let’s have our artists – that local homegrown artist, tattoo artist, local artist in high school – create these different shoes for individuals who are going through something here in the city of Toledo. It’s everywhere, right? …Let’s have them create some shoes. We can be interconnected and just give back with purpose all the way around,” Burney said.
Burney gives all the credit for his interest in connecting with the American Heart Association to his nephew, Champ Burney. The little one was honored at the 2024 Toledo Heart Ball after surviving four open heart surgeries, all before turning two years old. He’s now an active youngster who’s had a lot of support through the American Heart Association. Therefore, Craig told himself one thing after the ball.
“I want to do something just as memorable with the American Heart Association. I’m going to partner with them next year,” Burney said.
Several weeks before the Toledo Heart Walk, Burney enlisted the help of Scott High School Junior and budding artist, Kaiden “Kai” Reyna, and Tattoo Artist and 2Six Tattoo Studio Owner, Christopher Rayford, to help create one-of-a-kind sneakers for the men being honored before the walk. Reyna said he was thrilled.
“I like making people happy. It makes me smile,” Renya said. “I express my feeling through art. So, when he gave me the little opportunity, I felt like it was a really good thing to do for somebody.”
Together with the honoree, Brent Throne, Renya created custom sneakers. Throne was brought to tears throughout the morning before walking because he was just so happy to be alive after surviving a widow-maker heart attack. Seeing his custom sneakers, which are Michigan-theme, made him beam with pride.
“I think he’s going to display them. I don’t think he’s ever going to wear them – which – that touches me.” Renya said.
Together, Rayford and Burney, worked on the custom shoes for the American Heart Association. Rayford beamed as he explained how helping create these shoes just made sense.
“It’s something that can be worn. Something that can be styled with. Something that you can wear many a time, with different outfits. Something that can stay there. Like a fashion statement,” Rayford said.
He said combining fashion, art and service to the community are his daily drive. Rayford added how all of these sneakers can serve as a reminder for the recipients, of what they’ve overcome.
“The shoes would just help them out, and let them remember that I’ve been through the struggle and I’m here,” Rayford said.
When it comes to being heart healthy for our artists, Rayford said as a tattoo artist he must be CPR trained. Burney explained how the entire family supports and lives the heart healthy lifestyle as best they can, all to make sure his young nephew has good examples to live by and is always in safe and loving hands. Reyna told WTOL 11 he did plan on learning CPR in an upcoming health class.
It seems each pair of shoes, which were intentionally and creatively made with the survivors in mind, are actually a support for both the artists and the survivors, allowing everyone to step fashionably forward into a heart healthy future.
This article was published by TaTiana Cash on 2025-06-05 11:08:00
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