For 44 years the annual WSUL Heart-A-Thon hasn’t skipped a beat in its effort to raise money to help change lives. Being Sullivan County's longest running fundraising event for cardiovascular health, the funds raised each year go to benefit healthcare facilities right here in our community.
This year is no different. As the Democrat reported on Friday, The Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association is partnering with Thompson Sanitation to present the 44th Annual 98.3 WSUL Heart-A-Thon on Friday, February 11, 2022 at Resorts World Catskills.

This event raises funds for Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills Cardiology departments in both the Harris and Callicoon campuses. Last year alone, the annual Heart-A-Thon raised some $85,000 that was used toward the purchase of an Echocardiogram system for the hospital.

According to Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills CEO, Jonathan Schiller, it’s through the generous donations of individuals that all of the proceeds were used to save lives right here in our community.

In addition to raising money that could help finance the purchase of life-saving medical technology, the Monticello Rotary Club will be holding a blood drive at Resorts World during this year’s Heart-A-Thon. Blood donations are always in high demand, but it’s difficult to overstate just how critical those donations are right now.

The American Red Cross reports that we’re facing the worst national blood shortage in over a decade, which is posing a concerning risk to patient care.

“While some types of medical care can wait, others can’t,” said Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer of the Red Cross. “Hospitals are still seeing accident victims, cancer patients, those with blood disorders like sickle cell disease, and individuals who are seriously ill who all need blood transfusions to live even as Omicron cases surge across the country. We’re doing everything we can to increase blood donations to ensure every patient can receive medical treatments without delay, but we cannot do it without more donors. We need the help of the American people.”

The Red Cross says they’ve experienced a 10 percent decline in the number of people donating blood since the beginning of the pandemic, and they continue to confront related issues such as ongoing blood drive cancellations and staffing limitations.

Donate to the Heart-A-Thon this year and consider going the extra mile to donate blood on February 11. Either or both acts of generosity could go a long way toward saving someone’s life.
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.boldgoldnewyork.com/heartathon.