February is Heart Month. At the Kris Yip Memorial Foundation, our work exists to raise awareness about coronary artery disease in athletes and active individuals. This risk is often overlooked in people who appear healthy and fit.
Below, Kim Brochu, Kris’s sister and the Foundation’s founder, shares why this work is deeply personal and why changing the conversation matters.
❤️ February is Heart Month.
Hi, I’m Kim. I’m Kris’s sister, and I want to tell you about my brother, his beautiful life, and his legacy — in the hope that sharing his story might spare another family the heartbreak we live with every day.
Kris was a natural athlete. He loved to move, to compete, and most of all, to be around people. Whether it was skiing, skating, or cycling, he brought others along with him through his quiet confidence, his smile, and his kindness. He was highly competitive, yet incredibly humble, and known for his sportsmanship and support of others. Despite being reserved, his impact reached far and deep.
Kris did everything “right” according to current heart health campaigns. He raced from his early teens until his death at 47. He was fit, disciplined, and deeply committed to his health. That’s why his death from coronary artery disease was so shocking and devastating. Kris died suddenly while riding his indoor trainer. We later learned he had advanced coronary artery disease that had likely been developing since his twenties.
Years earlier, Kris had been told he had high blood pressure and had shared that our father suffered a heart attack at 59. Those risk factors were dismissed because Kris was seen as a healthy athlete. No testing. No follow-up. His fitness created a false sense of security.
This is what we are working to change. During Heart Month and beyond, we are raising awareness that even athletes are at risk of coronary artery disease. We are advocating for more tailored cardiac screening for athletes and active individuals, and encouraging open, informed conversations around heart health, early detection, and self-advocacy. By sharing research, practical resources, and real stories like Kris’s, we hope to help prevent more families from experiencing the same loss.
In honour of Kris, thank you for being part of this conversation.
Learn more about the Kris Yip Memorial Foundation and how we're working to raise awareness and advocate for athlete-specific heart health. Follow on Instagram or Facebook.