MLB legend Albert Pujols is teaming up with fellow St. Louis Cardinals icon Adam Wainwright, Darryl Kile's daughter Sierra, and pharmaceutical giant Merck to raise awareness about heart disease and high cholesterol.
Kile, a Cardinals pitcher, died suddenly at age 33 from heart failure in 2002. Pujols recalls the devastating day at Wrigley Field when the game was canceled due to Kile's death.
"It was devastating, and you start crying," Pujols said. "He was the first guy to take me under his wing."
Now, nearly 24 years later, Pujols says Kile's impact remains strong. He joined the campaign to use Kile's story to help prevent others from suffering a similar fate.
"Great human being who unfortunately left this earth too early, but he had that impact, and now we get to bring to life his story," Pujols explained. "Use his story to really educate people about high cholesterol and this disease and prevent people from having a heart attack."
Sierra Kile, who was just five years old when her father passed, expressed gratitude for the partnership.
"Getting to use my dad's story to help spread awareness on just the dangers of bad cholesterol and getting to your doctor is, it means a lot to me," she said.
Pujols, who played 22 MLB seasons and mentored stars like Mike Trout, says the experience taught him the importance of paying it forward.
"I remembered why he took me under his wing," Pujols said. "It was because of moments like this... guiding others as well."
