![Save-a-Heart-Car-Raffle-2020---02 The winning Save a Heart Car Raffle ticket was drawn by Glenn Craig, President & CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, and Ryan Witiluk, General Manager of Balmoral Park Acura.](https://www.netnewsledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Save-a-Heart-Car-Raffle-2020-02-696x465.jpg)
THUNDER BAY – One ecstatic driver will be starting the year in a brand new car! G. Tuokkola (ticket #0810) is the lucky winner of the popular Save a Heart Car Raffle – meaning they’ll be taking home a 2020 Eclipse Cross (a $35,600 value) donated outright by Thunder Bay Mitsubishi.
The raffle raised an incredible $63,696 for the Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular Campaign, to help bring full cardiovascular surgery to Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario.
Ryan Witiluk, General Manager of Balmoral Park Acura, said “No one should have to travel outside of town for life-saving cardiovascular surgery. It’s an important cause to not only our family but the entire community. We’re so proud to be part of this raffle knowing how it will help bring those surgeries closer to home.” Ryan congratulated the winners on behalf of his brother Jeff Witiluk, General Manager of Thunder Bay Mitsubishi, who was unable to attend the draw.
“Right now, patients must travel over 1,000 kilometers to access cardiovascular surgery, and sometimes it’s a trip that’s too difficult to take. The support from the Witiluk family is astounding. They, and everyone who bought tickets, are making history in our community.” says Meaghan Sharp, who is a member of the NextGen Cabinet for the Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular Campaign, as well as the Director of the Cardiovascular and Stroke Program at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
Second and third prize winners are Louis Nadin (ticket #2422) who won a return trip for 2 from Thunder Bay to any Porter Airlines scheduled destination ($2,500 value) donated by Porter Airlines; and Rosanne Simeoni (ticket #2089) who won a Panasonic Entertainment Package – 55” 4K LED Smart TV, Sound Bar & Wireless Subwoofer ($1,241 value), donated by The Power Centre.
The Health Sciences Foundation would like to thank the Witiluk family, Thunder Bay Mitsubishi, Balmoral Park Acura, J&J Sports, Porter Airlines, The Power Centre, those of you who took part, and our intrepid volunteers who helped sell tickets, for making the draw such a success.
Together, we’re healing Our Hearts at Home. Lottery license #M835318.