Dr. Sayeh Zielke and Lethbridge mayor Blaine Hyggen at the Bringing Hearts Home gala. (Photo: Chinook Cardiology)

By Christian Oldale

Bringing Hearts Cardiac Gala raises $644,000 for southern Alberta cardiac care

Feb 3, 2025 | 4:22 PM

A fundraising gala over the weekend has raised a lot of money to go towards healthcare in Lethbridge and southern Alberta.

The Bringing Hearts Home Gala, hosted by the Cardiac Sciences Advisory Cabinet in partnership with the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation, was held on February 1, 2025.

The foundation announced on Monday, February 3 that the gala raised $644,000 in support of the Bringing Hearts Home Campaign, a 30 month, $30 million campaign which aims to expand cardiac care in southern Alberta, and bring a catheterization lab to Lethbridge.

Dr. Crystal Elliott, CEO of the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation said, “A heartfelt thank you to southern Alberta! We deeply appreciate everyone who volunteered, sponsored, attended and donated to make this Gala such an incredible success.”

Among the attendees to the gala were Hockey Hall of Fame member Lanny McDonald and Tony Deys, a local man who shared his experience with heart issues.

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Dr. Sayeh Zielke, Physician Lead of Cardiac Sciences for Southern Alberta and Chair of the Cardiac Campaign Advisory Committee spoke at the event, and gave a message to those who were involved.

We have and we are continuing to create a movement. It is truly inspiring to see people drawn to this cause with their efforts and their pocketbooks.

The Southern Alberta Cardiac Sciences Program says that cardiac health issues is the number one cause of death for southern Albertans, and mortality rates are 26.6% higher in this part of the province than the rest of Alberta. They also add the rate of heart attack is 15.5% higher in southern Alberta than the Alberta average.

READ MORE: Bringing Hearts Cardiac Gala to raise funds for cardiac services

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