Heart Health Walk Raises $1 Million to Support Community
Over 400 participants walked, ran, and enjoyed live entertainment and healthy food during the 6th Annual Rob Millisor Heart Health Walk (RAM Walk) on September 25th at Carter Park in Breckenridge. The event is organized by Breckenridge Grand Vacations’ (BGV) philanthropic program, BGV Gives, in honor of late BGV owner/developer Rob Millisor, who passed away from a heart attack in 2015 while on a humanitarian trip in Nepal. This year’s RAM Walk has raised more than $149,000 of which $135,300 was direct support from 28 local and national sponsors. With partners like the Breckenridge Restaurant Association, the Town of Breckenridge’s Recreation Department, and Red, White, and Blue Fire Department, this event has really come to touch just about every local in some way or another which is displayed by the outpouring of volunteers that roll up their sleeves each year for the cause. An additional $8,750 of in-kind and trade support was received from six vendors. One hundred percent of every dollar is being contributed to The Rob Millisor Heart Health Fund at The Summit Foundation, a BGV community partner.
When the 6-year total for this event began approaching $1 Million, the Dudick and Millisor families pledged the final $29,408 to hit this unprecedented landmark. When asked about this generous contribution, both Mike Dudick and Mike Millisor answered, “It’s just the right thing to do for the community to create more awareness about heart health. We have seen first-hand at our own resorts how education and AED placement have saved lives!” Since its first edition in 2016, the RAM Walk has raised $1 Million dollars to date to benefit local heart health and critical community programs in Summit and Park Counties.
Grants totaling more than $800,000 from the Heart Health Fund have supported free monthly heart health screening events by St. Anthony Summit Hospital; heart-healthy cooking classes at Colorado Mountain College; and Infant CPR Anytime kits for new local parents. Additional programs include Keystone Science School CATCH Afterschool Program, which promotes healthy physical activity and eating behaviors in children; AED units for a number of Summit County organizations and BGV’s resort properties; and a community-wide CPR/DEFIB education and AED placement program.
Donations to the RAM Walk and for heart health programs in Summit County can still be made online at https://www.bgvgives.org/heart-health-walk.
To learn more about the BGV Gives Program, contact Deb Edwards at [email protected] or 970- 547-8748. For all other BGV PR/Communications, please contact Director of Corporate Affairs, Juli Rathke at (970) 423-4251 or [email protected].
About BGV Gives
Founded in 2016, the BGV Gives Program was established to facilitate and further extend Breckenridge Grand Vacations’ philanthropic reach and impact in Summit County and the surrounding area. Inspired by the late BGV Owner/Developer, Rob Millisor, this charitable program honors his example of service to others by supporting the local nonprofit community. BGV is excited and humbled to continue Rob’s legacy of giving through fundraising, sponsorships, grants, volunteering, and in-kind donations on behalf of those in need, with a primary focus on health, human services, and education. With guidance from the BGV Gives Program Manager, Deb Edwards, this program is committed to growing BGV’s local contributions and inspiring fellow community members to give more by providing resources and opportunities to help others in need.
