Oct. 23,
2009
style=’font-size:14.0pt’>Covenant Gala to Benefit Covenant Primary Stroke
Center
style=’font-size:14.0pt’>
(LUBBOCK) – The Covenant Health System Foundation
will host the 2009 “The Beat Goes On” Gala to raise money for the Covenant
Primary Stroke Center.
The cocktail-attire affair will begin at 6:30 p.m., Friday,
Oct. 30 at the Knipling Education Conference Center. More than 450 people
are expected to attend.
Yvonne Woody, co-chairwoman for the event, said organizers
hope to raise more than $200,000 for a certified stroke program, a cause that
has affected her personally.
“When I had my stroke in February 2005, there was not a
certified stroke program in the state of Texas,” Woody said. “I was
determined to help make that happen at Covenant.”
Yvonne is co-chairing the event with her husband, Dwain
Woody. When they discovered the proceeds were going toward a certified
stroke center, it was an opportunity they could not pass up.
“In order for Covenant to become a certified stroke center,
the staff must go through extensive training and education,” Yvonne said.
“The money raised from this gala will make that training possible.”
Strokes are the third-leading cause of death in the U.S.,
behind heart disease and cancer according to the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. It’s a statistic Yvonne hopes will get the public to
learn the signs of stroke.
“I think the average person should know the signs of a
stroke,” Yvonne said. “If you know what the signs are, you won’t dismiss them.”
Kristen Seideman, special projects coordinator for Covenant
Foundation, said the event will feature entertainment from Rotel and the Hot
Tomatoes and an array of top-shelf menu items for dinner.
“It is going to be an evening full of wonderful music and
food. The best part is it’s all for a fantastic cause,” Seideman said.
For more information about the event, call the Covenant
Foundation at 806.725.6089. Please read below to learn the signs of
stroke.
Know the Signs of Stroke
- Sudden numbness or
weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. - Sudden confusion or
trouble speaking. - Sudden trouble seeing in
one or both eyes. - Sudden trouble walking,
dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. - Sudden severe headache
with no known cause. - Remember to call 9-1-1
immediately because receiving treatment within three hours can greatly
reduce the risk of permanent damage.
:end