Our Founding Story
heart2heartnc was born through the heart-breaking struggle and passage of Chris Lucash, along with his family, friends and community. Chris, an endangered species biologist and co-founder of Sparkroot, lived deeply, full of energy, and with an adventurous spirit. He loved vastly, gave all, and dedicated his life to the care and repair of this broken world.
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Chris was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) and died in his sleep on June 4, 2016, one year and two days after his diagnosis. Throughout Chris's dying time, he was supported weekly with a variety of holistic modalities which brought him comfort, ease, and support. Massage, music, storytelling, and gentle guidance provided him with the safety and love he needed while he experienced changes in his body.
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"I want my story to contribute to the telling of a shared world of wolves, fathers and children. A world that will no longer be one of fracture, deterioration and extinctions, but of wholeness, health and abundance.
If I have to die, let this story be told in hopes that it will provide one seed planted for the growth of a new story, a new culture."
~ Chris Lucash
Learn more about Chris' story by watching "Staring Down Fate," an award-winning documentary film about searching for purpose in life and in mortality; about finding inspiration in the face of uncertainty.
This documentary is a painfully heartwarming story about Chris' dedication himself to bringing red wolves back from extinction in the wild, but who's life takes a drastic turn when he is diagnosed with ALS.
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Even with dying on the horizon, Chris finds meaning in the hope that his story will contribute to bringing people closer to nature and each other. He inspires us to find comfort and passion in living lives of purpose to continually make this world a better place.
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Chris' story received the "Best Feature Film" award at the Sunrise 45 Film Festival and the prestigious "Atman Award for Diversity in Film" at the Southern States Indie FanFilmFest.