Although she has worked to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation for nearly 14 years, it wasn't until recently that Suzanne Anderson truly understood how the funds help those in need.
Beginning three years ago, Anderson found herself, her husband and another family member in the hospital with heart-related concerns over the span of 12 months.
Until that point, heart disease was something that was more of a consequence of having lived a long life - Anderson's mother passed away from cognitive heart failure.
Her husband, Oscar Anderson, was the most recent and most severe. The two of them were in Vancouver for his treatment two years ago.
"My husband just had quadruple bypass surgery, so we sort of went through the whole gamut," Anderson said. An angiogram in September 2009 revealed Oscar had seven blockages. After stenting four of them, the couple returned down south a month later to have the remaining stents put in only to discover it wouldn't be possible.
"Then it became a waiting game to get back to Vancouver again, and in December he became very sick," Anderson said, recalling Oscar's inability to walk across the room at the age of 64.
In January, the two of them travelled via air ambulance back to Vancouver for the main surgery, which was ultimately successful.
Anderson, who works as the Prince George area manager for the northern B.C. and Yukon region of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, said it was through this process of being in the hospital and away from her family that she received a broader comprehension of what her organization does.
"We were down there for almost two-and-a-half weeks and every day was like a miracle," she said. "Everyday you just saw someone else getting a second lease on life."
Anderson and her family are far from alone in their encounters with heart disease.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, heart disease and stroke take the lives of one in three Canadians and is the number one killer of women - taking the lives of seven times more women than breast cancer.
The foundation is looking for local participants for their big (literally) fundraiser this June. The Big Bike rolls into Prince George fore three days - June 8, 9 and 22. Teams can sign up to raise money and take a spin on a bicycle built for 30.
The ride takes teams on a 15- to 20-minute trek through downtown Prince George, with flat routes planned to allow for participation of cyclists at all fitness levels.
Last year's event raised $1.2 million for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, with money going to support research, health promotion and the foundation's advocacy initiatives.
Anderson still gets emotional when talking about her husband's situation. Although she said she met wonderful people - from the air ambulance crew, to the hospital staff and even fellow patients and their families - it's not something she wants to experience again.
"This is what I raise money for. It still gives me goosebumps, just being there and seeing it and seeing where our research dollars go and how far we've come," she said.
To register or make a donation to the Big Bike fundraiser, visit www.bigbike.ca.
