AWARENESS & FAMILY SUPPORT
Every beat carries his name.
Because every child deserves the chance to write their own story.
Our Mission
#5 Beats for Nicko is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families affected by congenital heart disease through scholarships, grants, and programs in youth sports, education, and research.
NICKO'S LEGACY
A Life that Continues to Change Lives
Diagnosed before birth with single-ventricle congenital heart disease, Nicko spent his life proving that a diagnosis doesn't define a child. Through countless hospital stays, multiple open-heart surgeries, a heart transplant, and every challenge in between, he never lost his joy. He loved football, fishing, music, and making everyone around him feel like the most important person in the room.
"He didn't measure his days in odds. He measured them in joy."
Today, #5 Beats for Nicko carries that same spirit forward by supporting children and families affected by congenital heart disease through camps, family assistance, research, scholarships, and programs that ensure no family walks this journey alone.
OUR COMMITMENT
Support that meets families where they are.
Whether through financial assistance, meaningful experiences, research, or opportunities that help children simply be kids, 5 Beats for Nicko is committed to walking alongside families affected by congenital heart disease.
Compassion
We meet families with empathy, understanding, and practical support when they need it most.
Community
Bringing families, volunteers, and supporters together so no one walks the journey alone.
Opportunity
Every child deserves the chance to play, dream, and experience the joy of being a kid.
Hope
We invest in brighter tomorrows through awareness, partnerships, and future initiatives that improve the lives of heart families.
THE REALITY FAMILIES FACE
Many Journeys Start in the CICU
For families facing congenital heart disease, life can change in an instant. Days become weeks. Home becomes hospital rooms. Every monitor, every procedure, and every heartbeat carries hope. At 5 Beats for Nicko, we know this journey because we lived it. That's why we're committed to helping families through the moments that matter most providing support, resources, and hope when they need it most.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect, affecting nearly 1 in every 100 babies born.
About 1 in 4 babies born with CHD has a critical congenital heart defect (CCHD) and will require surgery or another intervention during their first year of life.
Approximately 2.4 million people in the United States are living with congenital heart disease, including both children and adults.
Congenital heart disease is the leading cause of birth defect-related infant deaths in the United States.
OUR IMPACT IN ACTION
2026 Moose #5 Beats Football Camp
A community united for kids fighting congenital heart disease.
A camper with a signed jersey keepsake
The 2026 camp crew, all smiles
A coach rallying the group on the field
"Real superheroes live in the hearts of small kids fighting big battles — and in the community that shows up for them."
— A #5 Beats for Nicko camp parent
Give a beat. Change a story.
Every donation goes straight to scholarships, camp costs, and family grants — no beat wasted.