Business

Mending Hearts: WVU Medicine Camden Clark holds annual cardiac care fundraiser

PARKERBURG -- WVU Medicine Camden Clark kicked off February's national heart health awareness month with their annual Heart Ball on Saturday night at the Wood County Resiliency Center. The theme of the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Foundation Heart Ball was Alice in Wonderland: Queen of Hearts.

Attendees enjoyed an evening of music, food and entertainment. The live entertainment included three local artists working on paintings based on the theme of the ball. Those paintings were added to the silent auction alongside nearly 100 other items.

All money raised and proceeds from the Heart Ball will go toward supporting Camden Clark patients who seek out cardiac care services. With this money, patients will be given the opportunity to receive blood pressure cuffs and weight scales so they can monitor themselves at home, additionally, for those who need it, there are also gas cards available so individuals can get to and from appointments.

"All the money we raise...will go directly to patients with heart disease," said WVU Medicine Camden Clark Vice President of Marketing, Development and Strategic Initiatives MarJean Kennedy.

"As patients are in need of those pieces of equipment or travel assistance, it will go back into that fund for that," Kennedy said.

Camden Clark Foundation Director Kim Couch said that nearly $40,000 was raised because of the community's generosity through sales of tickets, sponsorships, and silent auction item donations.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com