Ottawa is making heart health a community priority this spring, as the Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation launches its annual JUMP IN for Women's Heart Health campaign — a spirited fundraising initiative designed to shine a spotlight on cardiovascular disease in women.
Why Women's Heart Health Needs Its Own Spotlight
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in Canada, yet it is frequently underdiagnosed and underfunded compared to research focused on men. The Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation's JUMP IN campaign is a direct response to that gap, mobilizing everyday Ottawans — from office workers to retirees — to get active, raise money, and spread awareness.
The premise is simple: participants commit to a physical activity of their choosing, collect pledges from friends, family, and colleagues, and channel that energy into supporting life-saving research at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI), one of Canada's leading cardiac centres.
Getting Ottawa Moving
JUMP IN encourages all forms of movement — walking, cycling, yoga, dancing, swimming — making it accessible for participants of every fitness level. The campaign is built around the idea that small actions, multiplied across a community, add up to meaningful change.
Teams and individuals can register online, set personal fundraising goals, and track progress through the campaign platform. Many local businesses and organizations have joined as corporate teams in past years, turning the initiative into a friendly workplace challenge that boosts morale while supporting a worthy cause.
The Heart Institute's Impact in Ottawa
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute is no ordinary hospital — it is a world-class research and care facility that has been at the forefront of cardiac innovation for decades. Funds raised through JUMP IN directly support research programs exploring why heart disease presents differently in women, why symptoms are often dismissed or misread, and how treatments can be better tailored to female patients.
Researchers at UOHI have made significant strides in understanding hormonal influences on heart health, the role of stress and mental health in cardiac outcomes for women, and the importance of early screening. Each dollar raised through JUMP IN helps keep that work moving forward.
How to Get Involved
Ottawans interested in participating can sign up as individuals or form a team. Whether you log 10,000 steps a day for a week or organize a neighbourhood walk-a-thon, every effort counts. Donations to participants are tax-deductible, and the Heart Institute Foundation provides fundraising tools and support to help participants hit their goals.
This year's campaign comes at a particularly important moment, with post-pandemic awareness of preventive health at an all-time high. Community events like JUMP IN remind Ottawa residents that protecting heart health is not just a personal responsibility — it is a collective one.
For registration details and to support a participant, visit the Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation's official campaign page.
Source: Ottawa Business Journal
