by AMANDA WINTERS

Sequim Gazette

An annual heart-health luncheon hosted by the Olympic Medical Center Foundation on Feb. 10 raised a record $50,250.

The Red, Set, Go! luncheon serves to provide education and motivation to the 200 attendees, nearly all of whom dress in red to raise awareness for heart disease.

Sara Maloney, event chairman and associate executive director of the foundation, said education is the key to eradicating heart disease.

“Surprisingly, many people are still unaware that heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of women in this country,” she said. “There are many steps each of us can take to reduce our risk of getting this disease.”

The keynote speaker, Dr. Paul Cunningham, of the Jamestown Family Medical Center, talked about warning signs, causes, effects, diagnosis and treatments for heart disease.

The luncheon hit a personal note when Teresa MacDonald, an OMC Foundation staff member for 16 years, told the audience how her husband suffered from a stroke on Christmas Day in 2011.

MacDonald set out to raise funds to purchase two blood pressure monitoring booths to be located on the OMC campuses in Sequim and Port Angeles. A total of $17,045 was raised for the booths during the “fund a need” part of the event.

“These booths will be an asset to the members of our community since they provide valuable information in helping people manage their blood pressure,” Maloney said. “These machines support our ongoing efforts to educate and raise awareness of the importance of managing your blood pressure.”

Last year, the luncheon raised $38,000 to benefit patients receiving treatment in the cardiac services department of Olympic Medical Center.

Reach Amanda Winters at awinters@sequimgazette.com.