Jumping for Heart

Horse jumping aficionados won’t be the only spectators on the edge of their seats during the Canadian Pacific (CP) International event on Sept. 8.

Members of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute will also be paying close attention during the event, as the not-for-profit is once again the recipient of CP’s Clear Rounds for Heart community investment program, which donates $10,000 for each clear round jumped during the CP International.

The event will take place during Masters week, the conclusion to Spruce Meadows’ 44th season.

Libin Director Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD, is grateful for CP’s continued support of the institute, whose more than 175 members work to enable cardiovascular health through research, education and health care in Southern Alberta and beyond.

“We welcome the continued support from CP by way of this exciting annual international sporting event to help advance our Institute’s mission,” says Fedak. “CP’s Clear Rounds for Heart is a fun way to generate support and awareness for heart health.  CP clearly has a huge heart for our community.”

This is the third year running for CP’s donation to the Libin Institute. The event has raised more than $220,000 for the Institute, supporting an international forum on the new Canada Food Guide and the institute’s new women’s cardiovascular health initiative, CV&Me.

Attendees of the Masters event at Spruce Meadows will also have the chance to take part in the Super Heroes for Heart Challenge, a set of family-friendly activities designed to teach participants about simple steps to improve cardiovascular health while raising money for the institute.

For each participant in the challenge, CP will donate $20 to the Libin Institute. In 2018, the challenge raised more than $7,700 for the institute. 

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer globally for both men and women, and many of those deaths are preventable. In fact, eight in 10 cases of premature heart disease and stroke cases are preventable though healthy lifestyle behaviours, according to Heart & Stroke.

Since its inception, CP Has Heart has committed more than $19 million to heart health initiatives in communities across North America.

The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta coordinates cardiovascular science research, education and patient care as an entity of both Alberta Health Services and the University of Calgary. The Institute has more than 175 members, including discovery scientists, clinicians and clinical research members who serve two million people in southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and eastern B.C.