RedDAY: a heartfelt history of awareness and action

Highlights:

RedDAY started as part of the Manulife LPGA Classic in 2012
When the tournament ended after 2017, St. Mary’s and Manulife took RedDAY from the links to the community
With Manulife’s annual $200,000 donation match, RedDAY initiatives have raised more than $4 million for cardiac care
Today, RedDAY’s fundraising focus is on preventative care that mitigates heart disease risk factors

2012 - 2017

It started with an idea to promote heart health. It swung forward with a golf tournament.

RedDAY, an annual community fundraiser for cardiac care, began 13 years ago as part of the Manulife LPGA Classic. The June tournament brought the world’s best female golfers to Waterloo Region from 2012 to 2017, and with it, an opportunity to spotlight women’s cardiac health.

Manulife named St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation its charity partner and dedicated one day of the four-day tournament (Friday) to supporting the Regional Cardiac Care Centre.

On that day, the green landscape was dotted with red – red ribbons for golfers, red bibs for caddies, red hats for volunteers.

And just like that, RedDAY was born.

RedDAY’s momentum grew with each passing year. What started as a 50-50 lottery morphed into a Manulife donation match.

After the final tournament in 2017, the event shifted from the golf course to the community with a focus on general cardiac health.

RedDAY is a day to pause and think about your risk factors; but it’s also a day to do something about them. That could mean making a heart-healthy meal, going for a walk, or elevating cardiac care for your fellow community members with a RedDAY donation.

Susan Dusick, President and CEO of St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation

RedDAY is a day to think about your risk factors and make a positive change: a heart-healthy meal, a walk with friends, or a donation that supports preventative cardiac care.

Susan Dusick, President and CEO of St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation

2018 - 2024

No tournament, no problem.

Since 2018, RedDAY has become a day for businesses to engage employees with heart-healthy activities and spread awareness of heart disease factors.

Inside the hospital, staff proudly wear RedDAY t-shirts and decorate their departments with red ribbons and streamers.

Local businesses and community members continue to step up to support cardiac care each RedDAY – and Manulife has continued its involvement by matching donations up to $200,000 annually.

The result? More than $4 million dollars raised since 2012.

What's new?

In 2024, RedDAY’s emphasis shifted from general heart health to preventative cardiac care.

Now, money raised from the event funds the Regional Cardiac Care Centre’s PREVENT Clinic, a unique program focused on minimizing and managing risk factors – treating them before they become an issue.

While RedDAY has evolved since its first iteration, its meaning and significance haven’t changed. Supporting RedDAY means supporting cardiac health – for yourself and your community. And with Manulife’s donation match, your impact goes twice as far.

Donate to RedDAY and Manulife will match your donation, dollar for dollar* to support preventative cardiac care at St. Mary's General Hospital.

* up to a total of $200,000.