Cheerleading | 10/9/2025 2:22:00 PM

Morehouse College cheerleader Epiphany Wilson shared her passion for health advocacy at United Way on September 17, speaking about her nonprofit organization, The Heart Project, which she launched in June.

Wilson founded The Heart Project to spread awareness about the importance of cardiovascular health and encourage people to prioritize self-care in order to live healthier, happier lives. "I want to bring to the forefront of people's minds how important their cardiovascular health is, because it can often be overlooked," Wilson said.

A second-year junior at Spelman College majoring in Independent Neuroscience with a minor in Biochemistry, Wilson spoke at United Way about the mission of her nonprofit and led demonstrations, such as teaching attendees how to use blood pressure cuffs. The event also gave her the opportunity to share her goals and receive feedback from healthcare professionals. "I was encouraged to proceed with my nonprofit with intention," Wilson explained. "They advised me to aim for a target audience and make sure the audience clearly receives the message."

Wilson's interest in health began at age ten, when she started cheering. During her junior year of high school, she suffered a concussion that sparked her fascination with neuroscience and neurology. "After suffering from a concussion, I had a hard time adjusting back into the swing of things after feeling like I had missed out on so much," she recalled. "The support I had from my friends and teammates was how I was able to bounce back and regain my footing."

Her journey has since expanded beyond cheerleading. Wilson spent this past summer interning at the Congenital Heart Center at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. "This internship gave me a whole new perspective on a field that I had never looked into or expressed interest in exploring," she said.

Now with aspirations of becoming a neuropsychiatrist, Wilson is committed to continuing her advocacy work. She is currently developing a project called Healthy Kids for Kids, which aims to educate both youth and adults about cardiovascular health. "I aim to bring awareness to cardiovascular health in the African American community to those of all ages," she said.

Looking ahead, Wilson plans to attend medical school while continuing to grow The Heart Project. "As athletes, we need to do a better job of taking care of ourselves when it comes to injury prevention," she added. "I want to encourage everyone to listen to their bodies and what they need."