ROCK HILL — You don't have to think about your heart in order for it to stay faithful, continually beating and pumping blood to all of your organs. You should, however, think about your heart and what you can do in order to keep it healthy.

WSUL/WVOS will be teaming up with the Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC), hosting its 38th Annual Heart-a-Thon fund drive on Saturday, February 13, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Sullivan in Rock Hill.

In previous years the Heart-a-Thon was held at the Catskill Regional Medical Center but moved last year to The Sullivan, as it gives a bit easier access on and off the Quickway.

The Heart-a-Thon has raised an amazing $1.6 million dollars over the past 37 years.

The proceeds will be going to the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris as well as the Grover M. Hermann Hospital division in Callicoon, for two very essential machines. The Callicoon division will be receiving a diagnostic Central Telemetry Monitoring System and Sonic Ultrasound that can be easily transported throughout the hospital, and CRMC is lined up to receive the cardio rehab SCIFIT PRO1000 machine. The PRO1000 is an upper body exerciser that can monitor heart rate, exercise reciprocal muscle groups and is ideal for therapy settings.

There is a lot in store for the Heart-a-Thon with activities such as Zumba, Yoga, and Cross Fit planned for the afternoon as well as blood pressure screenings and talks by medical professionals, county dignitaries, and a ShopRite dietitian. The speakers will focus on spreading the importance of achieving and maintaining heart health, helping others take a step in the right direction.

“It's a heartwarming community event that so many people and businesses come together to be a part of,” said Helena Manzione of WSUL/WVOS. “The event consists completely of volunteers and donations.”

Denise Frangipane is co-chairing the event for the first time, and will be working alongside fellow co-chairs Jared and Julie Kaufman. Frangipane works for Sullivan Renaissance, whose focus is on promoting the beauty of the county, as well as healthy communities and improving the health of Sullivan County.

“I am just so happy to lend any support that I can to the event, as my work with Sullivan County Renaissance is focusing on healthy communities, so I felt that this is great timing and makes perfect sense,” said Frangipane. She continued, “The Callicoon branch of the hospital is very special and so important to the western end of the county, so I think it's great that they are being supported and thought of in this.”

Denise's father, Al Frangipane a.k.a. the Heart Man, along with Gary Siegel and Jack Costello, are in charge of distributing Heart-a-Thon Hearts for purchase and have been doing so for years. Pete's Market in Narrowsburg, the Jeffersonville Lions Club, and ShopRite are just a few places where you can purchase hearts. So while you are picking up groceries, why not donate a few dollars and grab some hearts too!

During the event, the hour from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m will be known as the Lee Siegel hour to honor his support and dedication to the community. The Livingston Manor and Liberty Rotary Clubs will be manning the phone lines during that hour, as Lee was a charter member of the club since its beginnings in 1954. The Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions Clubs, along with individual Veterans will also be manning the phones throughout the day, not only answering incoming calls but making outgoing calls, too.

“Our family is honored to have the Heart-a-Thon honor my father in such a way. My dad was very community minded: always giving back in one-way or another. So this honoring hour is very close to our hearts, and I'm sure it is close to his,” said Gary Siegel of his late father, who had Congestive Heart Disease.

You can find out more information about the Heart-a-Thon via the Facebook page “WSUL/WVOS 2016 Heart-athon” or the Sullivan County Visitors Association page https://www.scva.net/heart-a-thon/, where you can also make a donation.