On Saturday, Sept. 16, Artesia General Hospital held its Third Annual Heart Walk, a fundraising event whose proceeds are directed to the American Heart Association.
In both previous years AGH participated in this national event, the hospital has been ranked top five in funds raised. As of Tuesday afternoon, statewide tallies for this year showed AGH in first place, surpassing cities such as Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
According to event coordinator and AGH’s Director of Quality Jackie Cantrell, the hospital raised $11,298, burying its goal of $5,000 in a landslide.
For the first year, AGH added its own flair to the Heart Walk by expanding the event to include carnival style booths and activities in the parking lot near the Green Chile Café in the hopes of attracting more local involvement. Boots included common carnival favorites, such as face painting and a mini fishing pond, alongside new activities like diving for donuts.
Attendees also had the chance to win prizes: Yeti coolers, wine and relaxation packages, professional photography sessions and tattoos from a local artist. Elvira Marquez went home with $475 in winnings from a 50/50 raffle.
For Nelva Tidwell, AGH’s director of Public Relations, the highlight was simply the camaraderie of “being able to be out with friends and coworkers and walk for a great cause.”
Cantrell and Tidwell spoke of other upcoming events per the hospital’s plans to “end the year with a bang.”
On Sept. 21, AGH will be hosting Dr. Krupa and Dr. McIntire during a free peripheral artery disease screening event; a free flu shot clinic will occur on Sept. 29; and October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, with AGH’s 3-D mammography machine ready to be scheduled for use.
