Olympic Medical Center Foundation’s Red, Set, Go! Heart Luncheon raised a net record $133,000 on Feb. 23, exceeding the previous record set last year by $12,000.

Presented by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, more than 400 people attended the event — also a new record.

Funds raised go toward providing scholarships to help the OMC Heart Center to grow its work force, and to provide for what foundation representatives call a much-needed overhead lift system to help cardiac sonographers at OMC.

“Employee recruitment is one of the most significant challenges facing the healthcare industry and OMC today,” OMC Red, Set, Go! chair Karen Rogers said. “The Foundation initiated this program along with OMC to increase the potential employee pool that OMC can draw from. Once again, people in the community were extremely generous.”

Speakers at the event included Heart Center Medical Director Dr. Kara Urnes, and Dr. Sarah Speck, Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Programs at the Swedish Heart and Vascular Institute in Seattle.

Michelle Olsen from Port Angeles presented the survivor story.

“Each year attendees look forward to learning from women like Michelle who have been impacted by their heart health,” foundation executive director Bruce Skinner said. “It is through their stories that we can better support our family and friends.”

Red, Set, Go! is also an educational event: the luncheon promotes that the key to eradicating heart disease is education.

“The purpose of our event is to inspire women to become more educated on how to improve their heart health,” Urnes said.

“We are still receiving donations,” said Skinner. Those interested in contributing can contact the foundation office at 360-417-7144 or online at omcf.org.