Piedmont Augusta Foundation to raise funds for stroke awareness and prevention

AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) – The Piedmont Augusta Foundation says more than 800,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year. It’s the reason the Jernigan Golf Tournament has taken place for the past 38 years — to help decrease that number.

“Cardiovascular disease is one of the largest and worst comorbidities that we have in America and especially in the southeast,” Piedmont Augusta Vascular Surgeon Dr. Joseph Tingen said.

The tournament is named after Harry W. Jernigan Jr., who founded the University Health Care foundation.

“Jernigan – in the past – has raised money for different needs identified by the hospital. One year, we did giraffe NICU and giraffe beds for the NICU,” Piedmont Augusta Foundation Gift Officer Laney Mize said.

Each year, the organization aims to meet various health needs in the community, and this year, they focused on stroke awareness.

“Everybody knows somebody who’s been touched by stroke. So, it’s amazing that all these sponsors have come together, and today, played golf and helped us raise money for the comprehensive stroke program,” Mize said.

Organizers and doctors say they believe this event will contribute to that program coming to the hospital by the end of the year.

“Last year, we raised money for the comprehensive stroke program. So, this will be the second year we’re doing that, and by the end of this year, we will have the comprehensive stroke program, here, at Piedmont Augusta, so we’re really excited about that,” Mize said.

“We have multiple significant risk factors for that, and so, Piedmont Augusta is doing everything possible – with the best cardiovascular care – from the brain to the heart, to all entire cardiovascular care, just to improve and save patient lives every day,” Dr. Tingen said.

100% of the proceeds stays in the CSRA community to help raise awareness and preventative measures to combat the growth of stroke victims.

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