Baptist Health will expand its research and education efforts for stroke and brain aneurysms thanks to recent donations totaling $6 million, including a $1.1 million gift from a patient.
The donation from the anonymous patient and spouse will establish the Ricardo Hanel, M.D. and Eric Sauvageau, M.D. Chair in Neurovascular Surgery at the Baptist Neurological Institute, according to a news release.
It will be matched by Baptist Health for an endowment of about $2.5 million, which will provide permanent funding for brain treatment and research.
Hanel, director of the Baptist Neurological Institute, and Sauvageau, director of the Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, are recognized as leaders in treating brain aneurysms, acute stroke and cerebrovascular conditions using the latest techniques and conducting clinical trials, according to the release.
Donations from corporate and private donors will fund endowments focused on clinical program development for treating cerebrovascular conditions in adults and children, as well as expanding outreach and awareness for stroke and brain aneurysms.
Cheryl and Tom Rackley designated $1 million to support neurological needs for Beaches residents and $500,000 to the Baptist Neurological Institute Endowment. She was treated by Hanel for a brain aneurysm in 2015.
Hanel and Sauvageau, who came to the hospital in 2014, helped establish the Baptist Neurological Institute and Baptist Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center, which leads the region for new minimally invasive treatment of the brain.
Guns N’ Hoses bouts are April 22
Jacksonville police officers turned amateur boxers begin training Wednesday for the 19th annual Guns N’ Hoses, scheduled for April 22 at Veterans Memorial Arena.
The first session will include physical exams and cardio work. Sparring should begin in early February.
The start date for the firefighters’ training has not been determined.
R. Lee Ermey is coming back as the celebrity guest. He won a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor as the drill instructor in “Full Metal Jacket” and was the voice of Sarge in the “Toy Story” films.
Ermey is a retired U.S. Marine Corps staff sergeant and an honorary gunnery sergeant.
The matches are three one-minute rounds.
The winner receives the coveted title belt, which is displayed at the union hall for a year.
The event, which started in 1999, is organized by the Fraternal Order of Police Foundation and is its largest fundraiser of the year.
Tickets are on sale at gunsnhosesjax.com, ticketmaster.com or at the FOP office at 5530 Beach Blvd.
Youth Advisory Council receives $8,000 in grants
The Independent Living Resource Center of Northeast Florida has received a $4,000 grant from Regions Bank to help support its Youth Advisory Council.
The contribution is matched by a grant from the Farah & Farah law firm that was made to The IL Foundation this summer as part of the 500 Founders Campaign.
The Youth Advisory Council, which empowers youth with disabilities for leadership, is open to those ages 13 to 25 who have a disability. Activities include monthly enrichment events, a quarterly field trip, internships and transportation for job shadowing experiences.
To become part of the 2017 Youth Advisory Council, visit theilrc.org/yac to learn more. To obtain an application, email [email protected].
Fight for Air Climb at Bank of America Tower
At 8 a.m., Feb. 4, hundreds of American Lung Association supporters will begin racing up 42 flights of stairs at the Bank of America Tower Downtown along Laura Street.
Fight for Air Climb participants scale the steps in support of loved ones who are among the 33 million Americans with diseases such as asthma and lung cancer.
The annual Fight for Air Climb has been raising awareness for lung education and advocacy in Jacksonville for nine years.
Firefighters from Duval and St. Johns counties will be showing their support at the end of the event by running up the 42 flights in full gear — helmet, hood, pants, coat, gloves, boots and air pack — weighing about 45 pounds.
For more information or to register, contact [email protected] or visit ClimbJax.org.
North Florida Land Trust luncheon is Thursday
North Florida Land Trust’s annual Legacy Luncheon is noon Thursday at Friday Musicale, 645 Oak St., in Riverside.
The trust will review accomplishments for 2016 and discuss plans for this year.
The organization had a historic year in 2016, tripling the amount of preserved property by adding more than 12,000 acres to the land held for conservation purposes.
It is the most land the trust has preserved in one year since it was established in 1999.
The program includes guest speaker City Council member Tommy Hazouri, who was instrumental in obtaining city funding to help save the 1898 Spanish American War Fort in Arlington.
Ben Ansbacher will be recognized as the top volunteer for 2016. He is a member of the Team Terrapin volunteer program and helps monitor diamondback terrapins during their nesting season.
He also helped the stewardship effort with monitoring and scouting of potential conservation properties.
Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at northfloridalandtrust.org/legacyluncheon/.
For more information, contact Genevieve Fletcher at [email protected] or call (904) 479-1962.