Staff at Regina’s hospitals have big hearts, and the nurses who work in the Regina General Hospital’s Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) at the Mosaic Heart Centre are certainly no exception. They’ve been hosting a Cardiac Care 5K Walk/Run since 2001 to promote heart health, raise funds to purchase much-needed equipment for their unit and to support the continuing education of nurses.

Barbara Thiry, a CCU nurse and run coordinator, says the enthusiasm of the CCU nurses inspired her to get involved with the Run when she started in the unit in January 2016.

“In my experience, everyone wants to be good at what they do and give the best care they can,” Barbara says. “Having the extra support from the Run so we can do the best job we can for our patients has been really helpful for the unit.”

“Cardiology is a highly researched and constantly evolving area of health care,” says Danielle Pellerin, CCU nurse educator. “The proceeds from the Run enable our nurses to stay on top of the latest advancements, ensuring our patients receive the best care possible.”

While the event raises much-needed funds, it’s also a chance to catch up with former patients and their families who return to the event year after year. This year’s run raised almost $30,000, bringing the total since 2001 to nearly $446,000.

“One in five visits to Regina’s emergency room is cardiac-related, so it is imperative we have a well-equipped cardiac centre staffed with skilled nurses,” says Lisa Green, vice-president, development, Hospitals of Regina Foundation. “The Foundation is proud to partner with this remarkable and committed group of nurses, who invest time and money every year to make lives better for cardiac patients across southern Saskatchewan.”