VANCOUVER, BC; October 4, 2017 – In preparation for World Heart Day on September 29th, CDI College campuses across the country spent the month of September raising money and awareness for cardiovascular health, eventually raising $5,220 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

“We are very proud of our students, staff and faculty for raising these funds,” said Andre Souza, VP of Operations at CDI College. “And we’re even more impressed to have topped last year’s fundraising total by more than $1,000.”.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation estimates 1.6 million people in Canada are living with the effects of heart disease and stroke. One Canadian every seven minutes dies as the result of heart disease or stroke, and it is the leading cause of death worldwide. However, almost 80 percent of premature heart disease and stroke can be prevented by through healthy behaviours.

CDI College staff and students participated in a number of fundraising efforts on World Heart Day including bake sales, raffles, apple sales, and dedicating a paper heart to someone they love who has suffered from heart disease.

“It’s inspiring to see how passionate our students are about raising money to fight a disease that has undoubtedly touched every one of us in some way,” Souza said. Organized by the World Heart Federation as a means of raising awareness for heart health and encouraging people and health policymakers to act, the first World Heart Day took place in 2000, and is held on September 29th each year.