Annual Have-a-Heart fundraiser set for Saturday at fairgrounds

With a fundraising goal of purchasing and placing needed automated external defibrillators (AED’s) in public buildings around Putnam County, Jeff Rich has created the “Have-a-Heart” fundraiser.

The third annual version is set for Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Community Building on the Putnam County Fairgrounds in Greencastle.

Designed as a “family friendly” event, the goal is to have entire families enjoy an evening of “fun, family and entertainment and make the entire family aware of the importance of heart health,” Rich said.

“When the community came together in my support,” Rich said, “I made it my mission to carry on the event to help in making ‘heart health’ household words.”

Rich stressed that Saturday’s occasion is an effort to raise funds to assist community residents in becoming more aware of heart health, and to aid those who have experienced a heart event.

The Cloverdale auctioneer did just that in December 2014, suffering a serious heart attack that almost instantly made him much more “heart health” conscious.

That experience motivated Rich to adopt a series of goals for the “Have-a-Heart” event:

-- To educate the community on the importance of being heart healthy.

-- To assist those in our community to be “heart healthy.”

-- To support those in our community who suffer a “heart event.”

Long-term goals include “being there for as many people in our communities, whether it be by educating them on being ‘heart healthy’ or assisting with needed medical costs when a heart event is experienced.”

This year’s fundraising goals aim to assist others with “heart scans” as well as the purchase and placement of AED’s in public buildings and implementation of a scholarship program.

Activities will be staged throughout the day on Saturday include:

-- Silent auction, 9 a.m-8/9 p.m. (staggered close).

-- Soup, salad and fruit bar, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

-- Poster contest voting (by monetary donation), 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Daytime events will include:

-- Craft fair/Health fair, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

-- CPR/AED basic practice and review (different session each hour).

-- Fitness for all ages, 9 a.m.-noon.

-- Crafts for children with Julie, 10-11 a.m.

-- Stat Flight helicopter, 11 a.m. (subject to flight conditions).

-- Covered Bridge Chorus, 12-12:45 p.m.

* * *

-- Upward Journey (local gospel/bluegrass group), 4:30-6 p.m.

-- Dance Workshop performance, 6-7 p.m.

-- Jack Gibson performs, 7-9 p.m.

-- “Have-a-Heart” update and recap, 7:30 p.m.

-- Local information on heart health availability in our community, 8 p.m.

-- Ripple Heart afghan drawing winner announced, 8:30 p.m.

-- Processed hog drawing winner announced, 8:30 p.m.

Anyone under the age of 18 must be in attendance with an adult on Saturday.

Everything is on a donation basis (other than booth space rental).