February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States.

This cause is deeply personal to the Ergon family, and we are committed to raising awareness each year. For Tony Ramey, Supply Center Supervisor — Crafco Inc., an Ergon company, heart health is more than just a message – it’s a reality.

Pictured is Tony Ramey, Supply Center Supervisor for Crafco’s Millbury Supply Center.

Two years ago, Ramey suffered a massive heart attack. Months later, he went in for a routine checkup, which unexpectedly led to open-heart bypass surgery.

Ramey’s heart attack and surgery put a lot of things into perspective for him. “My heart health doesn’t just affect me, it affects many,” he shared. “It took me time to accept what was happening to me, but with the support of my incredible wife, loving family, friends and all the doctors and nurses, I am working my way back to normal.” Following this life-changing experience, Tony prioritizes healthy eating habits, regular check-ins with his medical providers and consistent exercise. He also prioritizes doing what he loves – playing with his grandchildren, golfing with his wife and spending quality time with family and friends.

Crafco Team Members showing their support for Wear Red Day at the Millbury Supply Center in Millbury, Massachusetts.

Ergon is committed to supporting employee well-being, including physical, mental and financial. Our Ergon Active initiative was created to promote healthy lifestyles and provide a sense of community as employees work toward healthy habits for improved quality of life. The program was launched on Valentine’s Day in 2022, emphasizing the impact healthier choices have on improving overall heart health and ensuring you are there for your loved ones.

In addition to our organization-wide efforts such as Ergon Active and more, we are also proud to support the efforts of organizations, like the American Heart Association (AHA), that provide resources for people to live healthy lives. Throughout American Heart Month, the AHA promotes initiatives to educate the public on heart disease risk factors, encourage healthy lifestyle choices, support research and advocate for heart health policies.

After his own health scare, Crafco’s Tony Ramey knows full-well the importance of investing in organizations that can impact the lives of so many. “I definitely know how important it is to support heart health awareness and the organizations who do so much to support this cause,” he shared.

Special thanks to the AHA for all they do to promote healthy hearts. We encourage everyone to start prioritizing heart health today. You can start by checking out healthy tips from the AHA here!