WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the number one birth defect and affects about 40,000 babies in the United States each year or one child every 15 minutes.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, our city held its first "Walk for 1 in 100" event to raise research funds and awareness about something that impacts 2.4 million people in the country.

Dozens packed Greenfield Park in West Allis to participate.

"I'm meeting a lot of people that live in our community that I've never met before, but we have a lot in common through our shared health situation," said volunteer Andy Ohlson, who was diagnosed when he was young. 

Ohlson said he wanted to share his story with other patients, to let them know they're not alone.

"I would say there's a lot of attention, and justifiably so, on children with heart disease but children become adults and adults with heart disease also need care and attention and support," Ohlson said. "Congenital heart patients are living longer lives than they ever used to in past generations."

That's why each step taken on the walk is a step in the right direction.

So far, the event's raised $23,000 dollars but organizers said their goal is to hit $30,000 or more.

"We have a growing number of adults living with congenital heart disease and I'm very proud of our program that supports them and cares for them," said Scott Cohen, the medical director for the Wisconsin Congenital Heart Disease Program. "Having these events to raise awareness in the community can help our patients gain support from their families, their neighbors, the community."

If you want to donate, you have about 30 more days to do so and you can click this link.

Organizers said they hope the event will become an annual one in Milwaukee.