By Denise Williams | News & Views

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participants from across the United States braved the hot, Georgia sun for a bit of friendly competition during the weekend of June 20-21. The fun — couched in activities ranging from cornhole and frisbee golf to track events and basketball shootouts — was delivered as part of the 2025 World Heart Games.

Making a return appearance to the event, which is staged every three years, was Wellstar Health System’s CR program. Staffers accompanied a powerhouse delegation of 16 men and women (some pictured) to Piedmont University in Demorest. Among them was Mary Lynne Thomas, 67, who placed in six events: softball throw, soccer shoot, prediction walk, prediction Nustep, basketball shooting, and trivia. The four bronze and two silver medals she won, the motto “Reclaiming the Joy of Sports” emblazoned on the back of each, reinforced her ability to be active. “Don’t let your cardiac condition determine your life,” is her message to her peers. “Get up and move!”

Thomas’ armful of medals contributed to a stack of more than 45 that the Wellstar participants ultimately claimed as a unit.

“These athletes are living proof that recovery is not just about healing — it’s about thriving,” remarks Paul Schneider, BS, Supervisor of Cardiac Rehab at Wellstar. “Their courage and camaraderie were truly inspiring.” Schneider worked with Jennifer Nagel, MS, CCRP, Manager of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Wellstar Kennestone and South Cherokee, to help organize this year’s team.

What that entailed, Nagel confides, was:

• Sharing the burden. The cost of participating was defrayed in part by an AACVPR scholarship that Wellstar applied for and ultimately was granted. Additional support for registration, accommodations, and team shirts came from the hospital and service line, according to Nagel. Not least of all, she acknowledges the contributions of coaches and participants themselves, who donated baskets for a silent auction. Profits from that activity went toward snacks, beverages, and other support items.
• Taking it seriously (while having fun). All good athletes must prepare physically, and the Wellstar competitors were no exception. Practice for indoor events took place every week on Tuesday, while practice for outdoor events was scheduled on Fridays. The pickleball team benefited from the expertise of personal trainers borrowed from the community fitness program, HealthPlace. And patients brought in their own equipment to the center, including horseshoes and a ping pong table, to facilitate training. Because the World Heart Games also invites participants to pit their skills against one another in mental challenges, each practice wrapped up with a round of Game of Knowledge. “They learned and laughed together a lot,” Nagel recalls.
• Providing non-financial support, too. Four Wellstar staff volunteers dedicated their time to coaching and cheering on the group of participants throughout the weekend, which also included a group dinner and other activities.

“They trained, they competed, and most importantly, they had fun,” Nagel reports. “It’s a reminder that cardiac rehab isn’t just about recovery — it’s about rediscovering joy.” The event just wrapped up, but it’s already time to start thinking ahead to the 2028 games, she suggests.

Starting early is key, according to Nagel, who advises that programs stay on task by keeping a running list of interested parties, conducting fundraising each year leading up the event, and routinely checking in with past participants.