Heart Transplant Survivor Highlights Harbor House Benefit Dinner June 9

Ginger Zimmerman will share her inspiring story of life after a heart transplant at the Harbor House benefit dinner, “And the Beat Goes On…,” Saturday, June 9, at the Doubletree Hotel in Henrietta.

Harbor House is a home-away-from-home for out-of-town patients and their families who come to University of Rochester Medical Center for heart transplant or critical care. The event raises funds to keep the house open and affordable.

The sixth annual event, which begins at 6 p.m., includes dinner, raffles and auction led by WHAM TV anchor Doug Emblidge.

Zimmerman, an artist and mother of three sons, has turned a personal health crisis into an opportunity to motivate others. Plagued by a mysterious condition that was slowly robbing her of her energy and health. Almost four years would pass before she would be accurately diagnosed. Ginger was dying, her weak heart barely functioning at 15 percent and a heart transplant was the only option for survival.   

In the past 14 years since her transplant, Zimmerman has become outspoken advocate for organ donation internationally and strong supporter of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign. A true woman of heart, as she calls herself, Zimmerman encourages women to lead a heart-healthy and physically active lifestyle.  

Tickets to the benefit are $50 and available by calling (585) 473-1779 or purchase them online at harborhouseofrochester.org.