Sarah Tone is getting set to play some sponge hockey this weekend.
February is Heart Month and on Saturday, February 8, 2014, 500 players, volunteers, officials and special guests will take part in Between the Pipes. This one-day, 4-on-4, outdoor sponge hockey tournament and social fundraiser will be held at the Norwood Community Centre and all proceeds will directly benefit the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
I lost my Dad to Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD) in 2006. ARVD is a rare type of heart muscle disease that affects the right side of the heart, making it smaller and weaker than the left side. ARVD is a genetic disease, and is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death among young, athletic males. In spite of his commitment to leading a healthy, very active lifestyle, heart disease found its way to him and our family.
My personal connection to the Foundation through the loss of my Dad made the decision to support the HSF with this fundraiser very easy. The Heart and Stroke Foundation is a leader in promotion of healthy, active communities. I wanted to create a fun, activity-based event that would encourage people to start actively thinking about their own heart health.
My fundraising goal for this event is $5,000 and my personal goal is to encourage participants to make smarter, healthier lifestyle choices to reduce their risk of heart disease.
“We are very grateful for the support of community organizers who put together fun and interesting events in support of the Foundation,” says Sue Punter, Vice-President of Fund Development for HSF. “Events like Between the Pipes allow the foundation to save on resources, ensuring the greatest part of every dollar raised goes to the research, health education and advocacy efforts that support the fight against heart disease and stroke.”
Fast facts from the Heart and Stroke Foundation:
- Every 7 minutes in Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke.
- Heart disease and stroke are two of the three leading causes of death in Canada.
- With the $5,000 we hope to raise during Between the Pipes, the Heart and Stoke Foundation can buy an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for a recreation centre, workplace or other public venue. If delivered within the first few minutes, CPR together with AEDs improves the survival rate of those who experience cardiac arrest outside of the hospital by up to 50%.
Though team registration for the event is closed, people who wish to participate can come watch the tournament during the day, buy tickets for the silent auction, make a cash donation, or buy a social ticket ($10) to support the amazing work the HSF does for Manitobans. The tournament kicks off at 9 a.m. and the final playoff game begins at 3 p.m. The social runs from 8 p.m. – 1 a .m.
If you would like to support Between the Pipes but are unable to attend, you can make a donation online by visiting www.livered.mb.ca, search for participant “Between the Pipes”, and follow the donation instructions.
