My story

Marc Bains

5 March 2025

Marc Bains is a passionate patient advocate determined to use his journey of living with heart failure to help others enjoy a better quality of life. Marc was diagnosed with heart failure at 23 and received a transplant 10 years later. In 2016, he co-founded HeartLife Foundation, a leading patient-led heart disease organization whose mission is to transform the quality of life for people living with cardiovascular diseases by engaging, educating, and empowering the global community. HeartLife aims to create lasting solutions, drive innovation, and build healthier lives for patients, caregivers, and families worldwide. Marc is also Co-Lead of the Canadian Heart Function Alliance, a research network focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of heart failure.

At first, the diagnoses feel like they take everything from you — your energy, your routine, your sense of control. But over time, you learn something powerful: you are still you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, to speak up, and to build a team that sees you as a whole person. Your disease does not have to define you. You can live fully, even with heart, kidney, or diabetes-related challenges. Its about life, not failure.
MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0122-2 | May 2025

Meet our panel

Marc Bains

Heart disease advocate, HeartLife Foundation
Canada
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0122-2 | May 2025

Marc Bains

Heart disease advocate, HeartLife Foundation
View my story

Uroš Bogdanović

Type 1 diabetes advocate, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe
Serbia
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0124-1 | May 2025

Uroš Bogdanović

Type 1 diabetes advocate, IDF Europe
View my story

Paul Conway

Kidney disease advocate, American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP)
USA
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0123-1 | May 2025

Paul Conway

Kidney disease advocate, AAKP
View my story

Patrick Gee

Type 2 diabetes and kidney disease advocate
USA
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0125-2 | May 2025

Patrick Gee

Type 2 diabetes and kidney disease advocate
View my story

Bell Maddux

Kidney disease advocate, National Kidney Federation (NKF)
USA
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0129-2 | May 2025

Bell Maddux

Kidney disease advocate, NKF
View my story

Pesh Patel

Kidney disease advocate, National Kidney Federation (NKF)
USA
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0128-2 | May 2025

Pesh Patel

Kidney disease advocate, NKF
View my story

Adriana Plevniak

Type 1 diabetes advocate, Breakthrough T1D
USA
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0131-1 | May 2025

Adriana Plevniak

Type 1 diabetes advocate, Breakthrough T1D
View my story

Angel Prince

Type 2 diabetes and heart disease advocate, WomenHeart
USA
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0133-2 | May 2025

Angel Prince

Type 2 diabetes and heart disease advocate, WomenHeart
View my story

Wayne Sandvik

Heart disease advocate, HeartLife Foundation
Canada
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0130-2 | May 2025

Wayne Sandvik

Heart disease advocate, HeartLife
View my story

Bob Sheridan

Heart disease advocate, Mended Hearts
USA
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0126-2 | May 2025

Bob Sheridan

Heart disease advocate, Mended Hearts
View my story

Mateja Malnar Štembal

Type 2 diabetes advocate, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe
Slovenia
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0132-2 | May 2025

Mateja Malnar Štembal

Type 2 diabetes advocate, IDF Europe
View my story

Kostas Tagkalos

Type 2 diabetes advocate, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe
Greece
>>

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0127-2 | May 2025

Kostas Tagkalos

Type 2 diabetes advocate, IDF Europe
View my story

Marc Bains

Heart disease advocate, HeartLife Foundation
Canada

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0122-2 | May 2025

Uroš Bogdanović

Type 1 diabetes advocate, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe
Serbia

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0124-1 | May 2025

Paul Conway

Kidney disease advocate, American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP)
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0123-1 | May 2025

Patrick Gee

Type 2 diabetes and kidney disease advocate
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0125-2 | May 2025

Bell Maddux

Kidney disease advocate, National Kidney Federation (NKF)
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0129-2 | May 2025

Pesh Patel

Kidney disease advocate, National Kidney Federation (NKF)
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0128-2 | May 2025

Adriana Plevniak

Type 1 diabetes advocate, Breakthrough T1D
USA
MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0131-1 | May 2025

Angel Prince

Type 2 diabetes and heart disease advocate, WomenHeart
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0133-2 | May 2025

Wayne Sandvik

Heart disease advocate, HeartLife Foundation
Canada

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0130-2 | May 2025

Bob Sheridan

Heart disease advocate, Mended Hearts
USA

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0126-2 | May 2025

Mateja Malnar Štembal

Type 2 diabetes advocate, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe
Slovenia

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0132-2 | May 2025

Kostas Tagkalos

Type 2 diabetes advocate, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe
Greece

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0127-2 | May 2025

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0190-1 | May 2025

GET SUPPORT

Navigating lifelong conditions can be overwhelming

If you need support in living with your condition, are looking for educational resources to help you understand more, or want to get involved in research, engagement and advocacy, take a look at our partner organizations.

MA-UN-CAR-ALL-0209-1 | May 2025