Third-Annual Hard Hats with Heart Event Scheduled for September 6 at Raleigh’s PNC Arena
Hard Hats with Heart, now in its third year, unites Triangle area construction industry companies and professionals around a common cause – the health, safety and wellness of the community. Presented by Brasfield & Gorrie, Skanska, RMF Engineering and Builder Mutual, Hard Hats with Heart will take place at PNC Arena in Raleigh on Thursday, September 6 beginning at 6 p.m.
Participants will network with industry peers while enjoying the opening game of the NFL season on the Jumbotron, heart healthy game day food, a corn hole tournament and popular games like the Canes hockey shoot-out and free throw toss. John Forslund, play-by-play announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes, will serve as emcee for the evening.
The American Heart Association will present Heritage High School student Jaden Spivey with the Heartsaver Hero Award in honor of his quick action in a cardiac emergency that saved his father’s life. Derrick Spivey, Project Manager with Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, will share the story of how his life was saved by CPR. When Spivey suffered a heart attack at home, Spivey’s son Jaden, a middle-schooler, sprang into action. Just weeks before, Jaden had learned CPR during a training at Wakefield Middle School. They dialed 911 and Jaden began CPR on his father, ultimately saving his life.
Following the award Heartsaver Hero Award presentation, Brasfield & Gorrie and Skanska will present 12 CPR in Schools Training Kits to Cathy Moore, Superintendent of Wake County Schools. Donated by the AHA with support from Brasfield and Gorrie and Skanska, the kits will be distributed to area middle and high schools to train students in the core skills of CPR, choking relief and Automated External Defibrillator skills. The 12 kits will train approximately 2,980 students per school year and prepare more people to save lives when faced with a cardiovascular emergency.
”Skanska is proud to support the American Heart Association through the Hard Hats with Heart event and CPR in Schools program. Care for Life is a core value for Skanska. Hard Hats with Heart allows us to take off our competitor hats for one night and join together to promote health, safety and wellness for our employees and community,” said Bob Myer, Senior Vice President, Skanska. “Working with the American Heart Association to provide a night of heart health education, fun and networking with peers, while at the same time providing a lifesaving resource to Wake County Schools, is a win-win.”
Healthy You Challenge
Heart disease and stroke remain leading health threats to North Carolinians. According to a Centers for Disease Control report, adults in the construction industry have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease than other industries. Risk factors such as smoking and getting little exercise outside of work are also more prevalent among construction company employees.
Participating Hard Hats with Heart companies are also competing in a Healthy You Challenge based on the American Heart Association’s four pillars of health – Eat Smart, Move More, Add Color and Be Well. Companies and individuals who collect the most points for completing challenges such as drinking more water, choosing low sodium snacks, being more physically active and getting adequate sleep will be awarded the Healthy You Challenge winner at the Sept. 6 event.
For more information about Hard Hats for Heart, sponsorship, or to purchase tickets, visit trianglehhwh.heart.org or contact the Anne Miller, American Heart Association Triangle Executive Director at anne.miller@heart.org or 919.463.8356.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
