Following the unexpected passings of her uncle, Lewisville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Greg Baker, and her brother-in-law, Bryn Lohrey of the Woodsfield Fire Department, from cardiac events, Casey Lohrey decided she needed to do something. This call to action led her and a group of family and friends to create Hoops for Heart VFD, a basketball tournament that provides vital health screenings and heart health awareness to Monroe County citizens for little to no cost.

Hoops for Heart VFD centers around a basketball tournament where teams from local volunteer fire departments in Monroe, Belmont, Noble, and Washington counties face off. While the participating fire departments compete for bragging rights, donations from local businesses, t-shirt sales, and country store sales underwrite the event and the health services available to community members. More important to Hoops for Heart VFD than bragging rights on the court are the health screenings provided at the event for community members at little to no cost.

Noting the important community service it provides to Monroe County and surrounding residents, Hoops for Heart VFD recently joined the Monroe County Community Foundation at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) with a fund to ensure this important community health service exists for years to come.

“Firemen are role models for our community,” said Ms. Lohrey. “We look to them as an example, which is why we have always valued their strong support for Hoops for Heart VFD. Now with the Hoops for Heart VFD Fund with the Monroe County Community Foundation at FAO, we have an even greater opportunity to support our citizens’ heart health while rallying behind our community heroes on the court.”

The establishment of the Hoops for Heart VFD Fund with the Monroe County Community Foundation’s Family of Funds at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio will support the charitable program and activities of Hoops for Heart VFD and their work to provide health screenings to promote heart health. The health screenings include 29 tests for myriad health indicators including cholesterol, blood count, triglycerides, thyroid activity, and many others. In addition to providing health screenings for local residents at little to no cost, funds raised will be directed to local fire departments.

Gifts to the Fund are tax deductible and can be made in many ways, including cash, bequests, and life insurance. To mail your donation, please designate the Hoops for Heart VFD Fund and mail to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, PO Box 456, Nelsonville, OH 45764. Gifts can also be made online at www.AppalachianOhio.org by selecting the Hoops for Heart VFD Fund when donating.