When 2000 Mrs. America Leslie Lam crossed the finish line of the 2006 Honolulu Marathon with her daughter Amber, it was an accomplishment that not only warmed the heart, but showcased it's importance in a way a hundred PSAs never could.

The Lams have a troubling family history of heart problems. Leslie Lam's father, sister and nephew all suffer from cardio ventricular tachycardia, a potentially fatal condition in which the heart's normal rhythm is disrupted thereby affecting blood flow to the rest of the body. Lam herself was diagnosed with syncope, a symptom of irregular heart function that causes sufferers to lose consciousness due to low blood volume in the braise.

Three years ago, Lam had a pacemaker implanted to help her heart maintain proper rhythm.

Lam had kept herself in shape with tae bo and yoga, but her cardiovascular endurance was such that she'd "never even attempted to run a mile."

That changed when Lam's friend Yvonne Ito-Minami decided she was going to get healthy — and the marathon was going to be her vehicle. Lam signed on as a show of support, but soon fell in love with the training she received from the Honolulu Marathon Clinic.

Amber Lam, who competed in cross-country at Kaimuki High School, joined in the effort as well.

"I couldn't let my mom do it without doing it myself," said Amber, 21, who is studying accounting at the University of Hawai'i. "We don't have much time to spend together, but Sundays became our day."

Leslie Lam was admittedly apprehensive when she started her training, but after a consultation with her physician, she realized "it was the best thing I could do for my heart."

That being the case, Lam could hardly have chosen a better group with which to train than the one led by cardiologist Jack Scaff, who helped found the Honolulu Marathon as a means of demonstrating the health benefits — particularly for the heart — of long-distance running.

"They walked you through the process and let you know what was coming up," Lam said. "If you train properly and follow the guidelines, you'll be successful."

Amber Lam took to the clinic with equal enthusiasm. And as much as she marveled at the steady progress she and her mother made, running up to 18 miles at the peak of training, she said she was even more gratified by the friendships she forged with the diverse group of regulars.

And at just 21, Amber knows her early investment in good health could help her mediate or avoid some of the complications her family has experienced.

"Being active is an important step," she said. "A lot of your overall health has to do with how healthy your heart is."

It's a message Amber was eager to share with her family. For her 21st birthday, she asked for and received the best gift she could think of: doing the Great Aloha Run with her mother, father and younger brother.

And that's just the start. "Team Lam," as Amber has christened them, plans of running the marathon together this year.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.