Fit Stars
PATTI’S SUCCESS!
I was 26 years old when I started having minor blackouts and feeling light-headed and queasy. I was breathing fine, yet I would often find myself out of breath quickly. My parents finally took me to a hospital where we found out that I had myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart caused by a virus. I was put on medication, but a few years later I developed congestive heart failure. It became so serious that I needed a heart transplant. During the transplantation procedure, my body rejected the donor heart.
Although the doctors and nurses did everything they could, they said I might not make it. But thanks to their dedication, I pulled through. Now, I have been rejection-free for the last nine months. I am healthier now than I was 21 years ago and I’m able to lead an active and fulfilling life. I even participate in the Heart and Stroke Foundation spin-a-thons every year. All of this is because one organ donor had the compassion, the generosity and the humanity to offer the gift of life to a total stranger.
Patti Gilchrist
The 13th Roger Weir Memorial Hockey for Heart Tournament
Since 1995 the Roger Weir Memorial Hockey for Heart Tournament has raised over $305,000. Last year’s event raised an astonishing $78,000 - $28,000 more than expected!
A total of 28 teams participated in the event, each playing in 3 games. The top fundraisers of the day had the opportunity to play against NHL oldtimers! Volunteers helped with registration, money counting, receipts and scorekeeping.
The arenas were transformed into Heart and Stroke fundraising havens. Banners, information tables and signs were plastered throughout each rink. Everyone did their part to support heart disease and stroke research.
