Cardiac Champ Challenge: A wet, windy, and wild success!
The first-ever Cardiac Champ Challenge by the St. Albans Rotary turned a stormy day into something unforgettable. Nearly 150 community members gathered at Kill Kare State Park as 21 teams of spirited paddlers raced inflatable boats across the water to support expanded cardiac care at Northwestern Medical Center.
Even in wind and rain, the energy was unstoppable, and the result was extraordinary: $135,000 raised for heart care close to home.
Why the focus is on heart care:
Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in Franklin County. Too many of our loved ones still travel long distances for specialized cardiac services. NMC believes high-quality heart care shouldn’t require leaving home.
That’s why NMC is actively expanding cardiac services, ensuring patients can receive expert, timely care right here in our community.
The St. Albans Rotary has stepped up in a big way, launching this new annual event—the Rotary Cardiac Champ Challenge—to fuel that expansion. By strengthening cardiac resources locally, we reduce travel burdens, ease financial stress, improve emergency response, and support the long-term health of families across Franklin County.
Funds from this year’s event will help finance the first phase of NMC’s cardiac expansion: a cardiac reading station.
This new technology will allow NMC to read echos and nuclear stress tests in-house, upgrade the way routine tasks like EKGs and stress tests are processed, and create the IT foundation for a future Device Clinic for pacemakers, defibrillators, and implantable loop recorders.
It’s an important step toward ensuring comprehensive heart care is available locally when it matters most.
NMC President & CEO Peter Wright captured the feeling of the day:
“It’s completely overwhelming to see everybody come together to raise money for our cardiac program. At NMC, we take care of our friends, our families and our neighbors, so it’s really personal to us.”
The event’s friendly rivalries made it even sweeter:
Champions: Got Heart!
Second place: NMSeaworthy
Third place: Row Hard or Go Home
Biggest team fundraisers: St. Paul’s Queen of Hearts
Most team spirit: Franklin County Women’s Leadership Circle
A special thank you to the top sponsors
Each contributing $10,000 to this effort.
AN Deringer, Inc.
Med Associates, Inc.
The Garibay Family
The generous gift made in memory of Gladys Rocheleau, NP, RN
Looking forward
The success of this first event shows what’s possible when Franklin County comes together. With this momentum, NMC is one step closer to delivering the level of cardiac care our community deserves—right here at home.
