AROUND TOWN: Hospital heads lead lively Heart Ball

Margaret Sabin, CEO of Penrose-St. Francis Health Systems, practiced restraint at the Feb. 23 Heart Ball. The physically fit co-chair didn’t have the black-tie audience doing jumping jacks, spinning or running laps.

Instead, she and co-chair Mike Scialdone, Memorial Hospital CEO, encouraged the 500 health-conscious supporters at the Broadmoor International Center to head for the dance floor, finishing up their evening to the pounding beat of Funkiphino. For sure, it was a cardio workout.

This 30th anniversary Heart Ball saluted 30 People With Heart: doctors, volunteers, those who have survived heart disease, supporters, sponsors, community leaders and family members impacted by stroke or heart disease:

Co-chairs Sabin and Scialdone, Steve Bustamante, Chris Carmichael, Kristen Christy, Dr. Kimberly Dulaney, Chuck Estrada, Dr. David and Paulette Greenberg, Stephanie Hammar, Dr. Nita Harris, Patrick Hettle, Jim Johnson, Tobias Kircher, Joan Klein, the family of Ted Lewis, Dr. Bryan Mahan; Jan Martin, Paul Martinez and Mari Sinton-Martinez, Rick Martinez, C.J. Moore, Thelma Morici, Allen and Holly Oliphant, Kristina Reavis, Dr. James Sbarbaro, Dr. Annette Seagraves, Cari Shaffer, Robert Gene Sims, Olinda Spitzer, John Weiss and Barbara Winter.

Altogether, more than $300,000 was raised, bringing a big smile from event chair Leslie McGinn. This was her final event for the heart association.

In a touching portion of the program, which included an Open Your Heart paddle raising, Dave Briggs was remembered in a video. His family, including children and granddaughter Braiden, paid tribute to the loving, humorous, gregarious Briggs, who with his wife Ann was chair of the 2012 Heart Ball but died of heart disease just a few months later.

His daughter Courtney, in tears, said what makes her sad is that her Dad won’t be there for the big moments in his beloved granddaughter’s life. He’s not going to be there when Braiden graduates from kindergarten, first grade, sixth grade, high school and college, she said. 

Briggs had first experienced a pain in his neck as he was driving home in 2002 and a 100% blockage was discovered. For 10 years Dave and his family made life changes that they will continue in his memory.

Coming up: Heart & Stroke Walk, 5K and 1 mile family fun walk, June 1,  UCCS, 635-7688 or csheartwalk.org.