"Rock the Ride" to benefit St. John's Hospital Foundation

For the third year, Revolution Indoor Cycling invites cyclists to participate in "Rock the Ride," a fundraiser to benefit St. John’s Hospital Foundation Stroke and Cardiac Care Fund for local patients. Held on Sunday, March 11 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, the event will take place at Dancers’ Workshop at the Center for the Arts.

“This event is compelling, largely due to the number of people who are impacted by stroke,” said Foundation Director of Stewardship and Special Events Mary Katherine King. “We have 33 teams this year, several of which include a rider who has suffered a stroke. We are grateful to our teams and their commitment to this cause. They have raised over $31,000 to date, thanks to their enthusiasm and the generosity of their donors.”

St. John’s Medical Center cardiologist Dr. Bill Mullen will attend the event to cheer on the participants and make a few remarks. “Heart disease and stroke are related and share many of the same risk factors,” he said. “And while stroke is more common in older people, it affects young people as well. About 10% of the 800,000 strokes that happen in the U.S. each year strike adults younger than 45.”

Revolution Indoor Cycling owner and event founder Julie Guttormson was one of them, having experienced a stroke herself in 2006, at the age of 31. Julie had been a vibrant, active athlete who enjoyed skiing, running, and cycling. Her full recovery included completing an Ironman triathlon and launching her fitness business.

"We're thankful to Revolution's Julie Guttormson for coming up with this fun and engaging event that supports the St. John's Hospital Foundation," said King.

Entertainment by DJ Valé, as well as prizes, refreshments, and massages from local businesses -- Healthy Being Juicery, Kate’s Real Food, Picnic, JH2O Water Filtration, Pearl Street Bagels, Snake River Roasting Company, Sweet Cheeks Meats, Lucky’s Market, and Chrissy Shea of Root to Rise Massage Therapy -- will help participants stay motivated and energized throughout the ride.

Prizes will be awarded to the teams with the highest mileage, highest fundraising total, most spirit, best costumes, and more.

Advance registration for “Rock the Ride” is required, due to limited space. To sign up, go to https://www.crowdrise.com/RockTheRide2018. For more information, contact King at 307-739-7517.

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Media contact: Karen Connelly, 739 7380, kconnelly@tetonhospital.org

ABOUT ST. JOHN’S MEDICAL CENTER
St. John's Health in Jackson, Wyoming, offers patient-centered clinical excellence and community wellness services through a full-service hospital, primary care, and specialty physician practices, and a long-term care Living Center.

ABOUT ST. JOHN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
The mission of the St. John’s Hospital Foundation is to secure philanthropic support to advance the mission and strategic objectives of St. John’s Medical Center, including patient-centered care, clinical excellence, and community wellness. For more information about the Foundation, please contact John Goettler at 307.739.7516 or jgoettler@tetonhospital.org.

ABOUT STROKE

If you have symptoms of a stroke, contact emergency services right away. General symptoms of a stroke include:

• Sudden numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of movement in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body.
• Sudden vision changes.
• Sudden trouble speaking.
• Sudden confusion or trouble understanding simple statements.
• Sudden problems with walking or balance.
• A sudden, severe headache that is different from past headaches.

FAST is a simple way to remember the main symptoms of stroke. Recognizing these symptoms helps you know when to call for medical help. FAST stands for:

• Face drooping.
• Arm weakness.
• Speech difficulty.
• Time to call.