Plattsburgh, NY - The 250 community members who participated in the 11th Annual Stepping Out For Your Heart helped shine a light on heart disease and women in the North Country while putting the capstone on The Foundation of CVPH’s $1.37 million fundraising campaign in support of the new CVPH Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center.

The Foundation of CVPH’s 11th Annual Stepping Out For Your Heart Event was held February 26 and in conjunction with the Foundation’s Wear Red day, raised $33,000.

“The generosity of everyone who participated and contributed to Stepping Out helped us reach our fundraising goal and we are so grateful to have such a generous and engaged community. It was amazing to see so many people coming together to learn more about heart disease and to support those in the community who are impacted by it,” said University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Associate Vice President of Philanthropy Kerry Haley.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, and many of those deaths, according to the American Heart Association, can be prevented through greater awareness of cardiovascular health, symptoms, risk factors, and lifestyle changes. According to Events and Special Projects Manager Michelle Senecal, the goal of Stepping Out For Your Heart has been to increase the community’s understanding of heart disease especially in women and to highlight the nationally recognized CVPH cardiology team providing exceptional care to the region.

Construction of the new Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Center in the Miner Medical Arts Building is underway and is expected to be completed in late summer.  It offers a larger space on the main campus to house the hospital’s successful Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and add a similar service for pulmonary patients. Cardiac Rehabilitation is a supervised exercise, education and support program focused on returning patients who have had a heart attack, valve replacement, angioplasty or bypass surgery to their optimum level of health. Similarly, Pulmonary Rehabilitation provides patients with chronic lung conditions an individualized program to help them breathe better, build endurance and improve the quality of their life. Education, support and supervised exercise are also key components of Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Education, Inspiration, Fun & Support

This year’s Stepping Out For Your Heart featured Cardiologists Joel Wolkowicz and Eric Gauthier presenting “The Heart and It’s Care Close to Home” and local heart disease survivor MaryAnn Castine who shared how surviving a heart attack changed her life. Former Foundation Board Member Michelle LaBounty also shared how the loss of her mother at young age to a heart attack fuels her commitment to promoting awareness of heart disease and support of those affected.  Guests were encouraged to participate in several interactive stations and could bid on a wide variety of donated items during silent and live auctions.  A heart healthy dinner was provided.  The evening was hosted by Lee Ann Ruff.

The event was graciously supported by Monaghan Medical Corporation, Liquor and Wine Warehouse, Della Auto Group, Adirondack Elite Aesthetics, Brennan Buick GMC, Community Bank, CVPH Cardiology, Schluter Systems, Plattco and all the generous sponsors.

“We are truly thankful for everyone who has helped us bring the new Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab center fundraising effort across the finish line,” Haley said.

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About the Foundation of CVPH

The Foundation of Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital began over 30 years ago and since that time has touched thousands of lives.  As a not-for-profit entity, The Foundation has its own 20-member Board of Directors that assists with raising funds and oversees how those dollars are invested back into the hospital and into improving the health of our community.  Through generous support, we are helping people, funding programs, enhancing care and touching lives.  To learn more about The Foundation and to show your support, visit us at https://www.UVMHealth.org/CVPHFoundation. 

About The University of Vermont Health Network
The University of Vermont Health Network is an integrated system serving the residents of Vermont and northern New York with a shared mission: working together, we improve people’s lives. The partners are:

• The University of Vermont Medical Center
• The University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Alice Hyde Medical Center
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Porter Medical Center
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Home Health & Hospice

Our 4,000 health care professionals are driven to provide high-quality, cost-efficient care as close to home as possible. Strengthened by our academic connection to the University of Vermont, each of our affiliates remains committed to its local community by providing compassionate, personal care shaped by the latest medical advances and delivered by highly skilled experts.