Dozens of people took to the streets Saturday to walk for a good cause, raising awareness about blood clots. NY1's Gene Apodaca shows us why it was a personal effort for one city family.

With shoes tightly laced, participants walked across the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday to raise awareness about a silent killer: blood clots.

But for one local family, learning about blood clots has been a painful journey.

"It was a blot clot that he had in his leg that he didn't know he had," said Lisa Scott, the sister of Michael Scott. "It travelled to his lungs and killed him."

Michael Scott was only 43 when, three years ago, a pulmonary embolism claimed his life.

The vibrant network television producer had been misdiagnosed, according to his family.

He was initially treated, they said, for a heart murmur, then asthma, and even anxiety.

Organizers of the New York City Clot Walk say that is why awareness is so important.

"It's our role at the National Blood Clot Alliance to educate the public and make them aware of what to look for, and to know their own bodies, and what feels right and what doesn't feel right, and to get help," said Judi Kaplan Elkin of the National Blood Clot Alliance.

If you suspect a clot, the alliance says there are things to look out for:

In your legs or arms — watch out for swelling, pain, or tenderness similar to a cramp; skin discoloration; and being warm to the touch.

In the lungs — look out for sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pain, a rapid heartbeat, and an unexplained cough.

Doctors also warn that age and gender have no bearing on who's at risk for a blood clot.

"The blood clot can happen definitely in young people," said Maria Teresa Desancho of the New York-Presbyterian Hospital. "For example, I would say women — they should be aware of these potential complications when they are taking hormonal birth control."

Awareness that Michael Scott's family learned too late, hoping now that his story can save another life.

"For him to suffer for six months — that stays in my mind," said Theresa Scott Lewis, Michael Scott's mother. "And I want to make sure that other families are a little bit more diligent, that we actually speak up."

Organizers of the New York City Clot Walk hope people will take away one message: blood clots can happen to anyone.

For more information or to donate, go to stoptheclot.org