THUNDER BAY  – The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation celebrated the winners of its third annual Save a Heart Car Raffle. The grand prize winner, Jouni Kuokannen, is the new owner of a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle. 

Save a Heart Raffle celebrated

Kuokannen drove away with a brand new Beetle, generously donated by Downtown Volkswagen. Other prize winners included Gary Bienvenue, second prize winner of the 2 Porter Airline return trips, and Kris BoByk, third prize winner of $1,500 cash. 

Celebrating the winners of the annual Save a Heart Car Raffle is a reminder of the importance of community support to cardiac health in Northwestern Ontario. 

All proceeds from the Save a Heart Car Raffle support the Northern Cardiac Fund of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. 100% of the proceeds remain in Northwestern Ontario to fund cardiac care at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. This year, over $42,000 was raised through ticket sales, bringing the 3-year total to over $126,000 to ensure the care cardiac patients need is available to them, close to home. 

Tony Bossio, Director, Health Sciences Foundation Board, knows the importance of world-class, close-to-home, cardiac care.  “My father had an angioplasty several years ago.  I must say, you really don’t know how important it is to have these services here until you have to go through it, either yourself, or with a family member.  I can’t imagine how challenging it would have been for our whole family if Dad had to be flown out of town.” 

Our family members, friends and neighbours now have access to the Gold Standard of cardiac care because the people in our community made it possible with their support and donations.”   

Downtown Volkswagen made an outright donation of the 2013 Beetle, which means more funds go directly to cardiac care.  “Knowing that this raffle has made such an impact on cardiac patient care here in the Northwest reaffirms our decision to support the Northern Cardiac Fund,” said Lida and Bert Mascarin of Downtown Volkswagen.  “What better investment could we make then one that ultimately saves the lives of our family, friends and community members?”