Today marks the 48th annual WSUL Heart-a-Thon (weather permitting, as we were expecting some snow as of deadline on Thursday morning).

The longest-running community fundraising event for cardiovascular health, held at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, is a testament to our community’s support and love for the health of our friends and neighbors.

Using some good-old-fashioned competition techniques, teams have formed to see who can raise the most money for the hefty goal. 

The funds raised will benefit programs and equipment focused on the prevention, education, and treatment of heart disease through organizations such as Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills, Sullivan 180, A Single Bite, STEAM Fund and NAMI of Sullivan County.

Those organizations are representative of what we can accomplish when we work together: when Sullivan County was named as being second to last in the state in terms of health outcomes, these groups banded together to try and change that number. 

In just a few years, the county rose through the ranks to the number 57 spot as of 2024, a determined mark of improvement. 

But we still have a way to go. 

The statistics around heart disease are startling: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people in the United States; one person dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease. 

Nearly everyone knows someone—a parent, a neighbor, a coworker—whose life has been altered by cardiac illness.

It’s important to know the risks—high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking are among key risk factors for heart disease—so that mitigation efforts can be had.

We are happy to see that the Heart-a-Thon includes a health and wellness fair, including vendors focused on everything from tai chi and yoga to healthy food and career opportunities. 

The mission of the Heart-a-Thon focuses on three things: prevention, education and treatment. 

From early screenings to patient support—these are not abstract goals. They are lifelines.

The Heart-A-Thon is not just about raising funds. It is about raising awareness, raising hope, and working together to support our community.