A former basketball coach in Georgia is spreading a message of health to local students after he was given a second chance.

Narleski “Chip” Malone, former coach at Warner Robins High School, underwent a heart transplant in 2010.

As part of his Teams Against Heart Disease program, Malone and his wife bought 2,000 pairs of red shoe laces to raise awareness about adolescent cardiovascular disease.

“I don’t think people know how serious heart disease is,” Malone said in an interview with “The Telegraph’s” Angela Woolen.

So far he has visited seventh- and eighth-grade boys and girls basketball teams and cheerleaders at several middle schools, as well as Veterans, Perry, Warner Robins and Northside high schools.

Participating schools have agreed to wear the red shoe laces during basketball games in February, which is American Heart Month.

“The response has been great,” he said in his interview.

Malone’s wife, Cynthia, told “The Telegraph” that no matter where they go people come up and tell Chip and say, “Coach, you’ve inspired me.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women. Malone’s on a mission to try to inform every student, but would consider his work a success if he can get a few of the kids to understand how to prolong their lives.