Crossing Rivers Health Cardiac Rehab Team brings home 2nd Runner Up Overall Team
Contact: Crossing Rivers Communications
Crossing Rivers Health Cardiac Rehab and Healthy Hearts participants have every reason to be especially proud of their participation in the 17th Annual Hearts of Gold Games held in Baraboo recently. The team earned 2nd runner up Overall Team Award out of eight teams. Tammy Thompson, Crossing Rivers Health Cardiac Rehab Director/Clinical Exercise Physiologist, explained, “Our hospital and area community continues to be well represented at the games. We have attended the games for the last 16 years. Our team looks forward to going each year and recruits new participants every year. This year they were excited to have a room in our department to set up some of the games and have practice sessions. In previous years we were limited in space to practice, but with the addition of an education room for our Cardiac Rehab patients in our new facility, we are able to have the space for team members to practice. And practice paid off- we came home with the 2nd Runner Up Team trophy!”
Crossing Rivers Health’s team of seven local individuals, were among the 88 Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab participants entering the modified Olympic games from the Southwest Wisconsin region. Teams in attendance travelled from Prairie du Chien, Dodgeville, Janesville, Fort Atkinson, Columbus, Baraboo and Monroe, Wisconsin.
Participants could elect to compete in 10 different recreational events- horse shoes, bean bag toss, golf putting, ladderball, walking and swimming events and a knowledge test. Participants could also choose to participate in the annual bake off event to showcase heart healthy recipes prepared by participants.
George Kahler, Prairie du Chien, received 1st place in bean bags and 2nd place in the men’s prediction swim competition. Connie Collins, Prairie du Chien, won 2nd place in the ladderball competition and Janet Kahler, Prairie du Chien, took 1st place in the bake off competition with her healthy apple bars, 1st place in the women’s prediction swim competition and 2nd place in the women’s bean bag competition. Other members of the team were Betty Breitsprecher, Dana Kahler, Dyan Winkers, and Janet Rieck. The team also had multiple door prize winners.
Tammy Thompson was proud of their team’s participation. She said, “We congratulate and thank each of the participants for entering these challenging events and representing our organization year after year. To be recognized as one of the top teams at the games is a tremendous accomplishment, as we travel the furthest to attend and have the smallest team in attendance. George Kahler of Prairie du Chien has been representing the hospital for 16 years and many of the other team members have represented Crossing Rivers Health multiple years. Again, the value of exercise, together with a healthy lifestyle, continues to generate personal rewards!”
Individuals interested in learning about the Cardiac Rehab and Healthy Hearts Program or Pulmonary Rehab are encouraged to call Crossing Rivers Health at 608.357.2349 or visit crossingrivers.org to learn more.