$60,000 raised for 2016 American Heart Association Montgomery County Heart Ball

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Dozens of Woodlands-area philanthropists, business leaders and volunteers headed to the Texas Hill Country September 25 for a two-day Road Rally in support of the American Heart Association’s 2016 Montgomery County Heart Ball.

The group, joined by Heart Ball co-chairs Tracy and Richard Wilken, helped the AHA raise $60,000 of its $1.2 million goal for next year’s Heart Ball, themed “Hollywood: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”

The Road Rally made several pit-stops at Austin and Fredricksburg locations. Volunteers got a rare opportunity to learn about upcoming legislation as well as recent wins around our CPR and smoke-free initiatives.

From there the Road Rally traveled through the hill country learning about the benefits of superfoods, enjoying heart-pumping country western dancing, and trying new heart-healthy recipes at various restaurants.

While on the road, the Road Rally stopped to learn Hands-Only CPR, a major focus for the upcoming Heart Ball. In Montgomery County, the bystander rate for CPR, meaning the amount of people who could successfully perform CPR during a cardiac arrest event, is 14 percent. This marks a significant education gap from the bystander CPR rate across the country of 40 percent.

On top of CPR education, the Road Rally got the chance to learn about the AHA’s newest initiative, “Get1Done,” an initiative that is focusing on eliminating heart disease by one person each day. By raising $1 for the fight against cardiovascular diseases and stroke, educating one person on CPR initiatives, and taking one step towards a healthier lifestyle, we are choosing to “Get1Done.”

Last year, the Heart Ball raised over $1 million to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, thanks to co-chairs Sherry and Richard Lane. The 2016 Heart Ball promises more glamour, and glitz as well as education on life-saving advances and research.

The Heart Ball will be on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Woodlands Waterway Marriott from 6:30 p.m. to Midnight. For more information, visit www.montgomerycountyheartball.ahaevents.org.