Peter Munk Cardiac Centre Hosts 1ST Annual Valentine's Day, HEART IN THE CITY

In Support of the Ted Rogers Centre of Excellence in Heart Function

TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - On February 14^th Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC) will host the 1^st annual Valentine's Day, HEART IN THE CITY fundraising event in support of the Ted Rogers Centre of Excellence in Heart Function at Yonge-Dundas Square from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Event activities include a projected light show featuring floating hearts and "messages of love" on a large outdoor screen.  Valentine messages can be purchased onsite for a minimum donation of $20.  Donations can be directly deposited into an interactive donation box with a large Plexiglas LED illuminated red heart.  As donations increase, so will the brightness of the heart.  Juno-nominated Canadian crooner Matt Dusk will entertain a lucky crowd with a LIVE performance from his latest CD "My Funny Valentine: The Chet Baker Songbook", available in stores February 12^th.  Special guests will include Loretta Rogers, Dr. Vivek Rao, Head, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and Dr. Heather Ross, Director, Ted Rogers Centre of Excellence in Heart Function. The event will be hosted by Breakfast Television's Jennifer Valentyne. FREE hot chocolate and coffee will be served.

The Valentine's Day, HEART IN THE CITY event will mark the climax of a two week online fundraising campaign by Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation (TGWHF).  Until February 14, for a minimum donation of $25 you can visit www.heartinthecity.ca and send your loved ones a Valentine's card, either by email or post.  Online donors will also have the option to have their messages projected live on Valentine's Day at Yonge-Dundas Square.

"We find that people are now looking for more significant and meaningful ways to give seasonal gifts.  Many of us have been impacted by heart disease, so we have created this fun and impactful way to support heart disease research while telling your loved ones how much they mean to you." said Louise Aspin, Vice President of Advancement, Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation.

A hashtag (#heartinthecity) was created to further engage the community and encourage conversation through UHN's social media networks including Twitter (@TGWHF and @PMCCCampaign) as well as Facebook.com/TGWHF and Facebook.com/PeterMunkCardiacCentre.

February is Heart Health Month.  Share these Heart Healthy Tips with your loved ones; courtesy of Dr. Ross and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.

• Remember your life is worth one hour a day. Make the right decisions and include moderate exercise, a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight and don't smoke!
• For Valentine's Day, make sure you indulge in chocolate that is > 70% Cocoa (Dr. Ross's favorite is Soma's Madagascar)
• Enjoy a glass of red wine and smile often.

Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation
Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation (TGWHF) raises funds for research, education and the enhancement of patient care at Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital as well as for their respective research arms, Toronto General Research Institute and Toronto Western Research Institute. The Foundation's vision is to enable global leadership and innovation in healthcare by developing and sustaining strong relationships with University Health Network stakeholders. www.tgwhf.ca

Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC) is the premier cardiac centre in Canada. Since it opened in 1997, the Centre has saved and improved the lives of cardiac and vascular patients from around the world. Each year, approximately 55,000 patients receive innovative and compassionate care from multidisciplinary teams in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre. The Centre trains more cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and vascular surgeons than any other hospital in Canada. Based at the Toronto General Hospital and the Toronto Western Hospital - members of University Health Network, which also includes the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. All four sites are research hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto. www.petermunkcardiaccentre.ca

Ted Rogers Centre of Excellence in Heart Function
More than 500,000 Canadians are living with heart failure and each year, 50,000 new cases are diagnosed. The Ted Rogers Centre of Excellence in Heart Function is dedicated to improving the lives of Ontarians afflicted with heart failure. Under the leadership of Dr. Heather Ross, our esteemed cardiovascular specialists treat some of the most complex heart failure patient cases in the country. In addition to our clinical expertise, our team leads one of the most comprehensive and internationally recognized heart failure research and educational programs. Our Fellowship program offers accredited core competency training in Heart Failure and additional training in transplantation, device therapies, mechanical circulatory support and cardiac imaging. The Ted Rogers Centre of Excellence in Heart Function is also an international leader in outcomes-based and human physiology research.

SOURCE: Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation

For media inquiries and to book interviews please contact:

Megan Goldwell
Manager, Corporate Partnerships and Special Projects
Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation
[phone]
[email protected]