2025 Thankful Hearts Walk supports Cardiac/Pulmonary Care at RMH
August 12, 2025 - Ron Houlihan is a proud champion of Ross Memorial’s Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation program, having completed it twice. The first occurred eight years ago when chest pains kept him from hosting Downeyville’s Irish concert. With three new stents in his heart, he completed the program faithfully because he was determined to regain his health. He did his exercises and kept it up.
Then last fall, Ron’s chest pains returned. He woke his wife who called 911. From Ross Memorial he was rushed to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. He had an aneurysm on his aorta and required emergency open heart surgery. “They took the aneurysm away and put me back together again.”
When they operated at Sunnybrook, the surgeon later said he had never met anyone in their 80s in better condition. Ron attributes that to the exercises he learned in cardiac rehab.
“Anyone who gets the opportunity to do the program should jump at it. You really work from the moment you come in until you’re done. You really focus on the work you’re doing. They keep you busy.”
Ron is one of the former patients Lindsay Churcher, Physiotherapist, and Ruth Hopkins, Rehab Assistant, hope to see at the Thankful Hearts Fundraising Walk on October 2.
Grateful patient and RMH volunteer Kevin Llewellyn is another.
Kevin’s healthcare journey began in 2014 when a broken leg led to blood clots and ultimately, a massive bilateral embolism on his lungs and small tear in his heart. He was diagnosed quickly and treated successfully. Five years later, Kevin suffered a mild stroke and was brought to RMH. It was advised he participate in cardiac rehab along with physiotherapy.
“It was amazing. What I enjoyed was you had somebody monitoring you constantly to let you know if what you were doing wasn’t enough, too much or just enough. They talk about exercise, diet, strength training and how it all affects your body.
They took phenomenal care of everyone. I had an episode and my heart rate went a little crazy and they reacted very quickly. They sat me down, monitored me and made it very clear: if my heart rate didn’t return to normal, I was going directly to the Emergency Department. I remember it was very comforting and reassuring.”
Today, Kevin volunteers with the cardiac/pulmonary rehab program. He knows from experience the value in talking to someone who has had a similar experience.
Throughout Kawartha Lakes, people credit their improved cardiac and pulmonary health to the timely care and rehabilitation they received thanks to Ross Memorial Hospital.
The Thankful Hearts Walk raises both awareness of this important service and funds for Ross Memorial’s cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program.
The Thankful Hearts Walk takes place Thursday, October 2. Participants may register from 1:30-2:00pm in the RMH Cafeteria. The warm-up begins at 2:00pm and walkers set off at 2:15pm for a 2km walk. A shorter route is also an option.
Donation/pledge forms are available through the RMH Cardiac Rehabilitation program and the RMH Foundation. Those wishing to fundraise online for the Thankful Hearts Walk can do so at justgiving.com/campaign/rmhthankfulheartswalk2025.
For more information, contact the RMH Foundation office at 705-328-6146 or email foundation@rmh.org.
PHOTO: Ruth Hopkins, Rehab Assistant, and Ron Houlihan, two-time graduate of the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation program in a power pose outside Ross Memorial Hospital