PORT ANGELES — Tickets are available now for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation’s 11th annual Red, Set, Go! Heart Luncheon on Friday, Feb. 23.
The luncheon, presented by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, will be at 11:30 a.m. at Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles. Individual tickets are $60.
The theme will be “I Am Incredible.”
Those interested in sponsoring or attending the luncheon can contact the foundation office at 360-417-7144, or go online at www.omcf.org.
“We encourage you to attend this wonderful event,” said committee chair Karen Rogers.
“We have sold a record amount of sponsorships and therefore, 100 percent of all money raised at the luncheon will go towards local cardiac service care. To date we have raised over $302,000.”
The special honoree will be Ann Kennedy, who will deliver the “survivor” story. Speaking on heart health education will be Dr. Kara Urnes from Olympic Medical Heart Center and Dr. Debleena Dutt from Swedish Medical Center.
Funds from this year’s luncheon will go toward the purchase of a nuclear camera for cardiac stress testing to replace one that has reached its service life.
The new camera will reduce radiation exposure to the patient, reduce the amount of time patients have to be in an uncomfortable position from 30 minutes to 6-10 minutes, and provide improved imaging with enhanced technology.
“Once again, we are raising money for something that will save lives,” Rogers said.
In 2008, the OMC Foundation launched a three-year campaign to raise awareness about the issue of heart health for women on the Olympic Peninsula.
The campaign was so successful that the foundation decided to host an annual event.
“The purpose of our event is to inspire women to become more educated to improve their heart health.
Many women are surprised to learn that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women,” Urnes said.
In the first nine years, the event has raised money to benefit patients through the Olympic Medical Center’s cardiac program and save lives, according to OMC officials.
Proceeds from the events have also allowed the foundation to partner with local agencies to launch a community-wide automated external defibrillator program.
