Lethbridge cardiac campaign gets $77,000 boost from harvest fundraiser
A grassroots farm organization's charity event drew nearly 75 attendees, most of whom said heart disease had touched their own family or someone close to them.
Why it matters
The donation helps bring specialized cardiac care closer to home for southern Alberta families who currently must travel long distances for treatment.
The Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation has received a donation of just over $77,000 for its Bringing Hearts Home campaign, which supports a new cardiac care unit. The money came from Crop Aid Nutrition's Heart of Harvest fundraiser, held last Thursday and attended by close to 75 people.
The effort was led by Crop Aid Nutrition district manager Walter Van Ee, who lost his seven-month-old daughter to heart complications 38 years ago. Van Ee said his family has dealt with heart issues across generations and understands firsthand the burden of travelling long distances for specialized cardiac treatment.
During the event, a show of hands revealed that about 90 percent of attendees either had personal experience with heart issues or knew someone close to them affected by the condition, underscoring the community's connection to the cause.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.