Life is Good", as Roon would always say...

Michael was a patient at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute for more than 15 years.

Throughout the years, Michael always received the best of care, not only from Dr. Chan and Dr. Green but from the whole team, especially the kind and extremely capable nurses. He compared the Ottawa Heart Institute with the treatment he had received since birth from hospitals such as Massachusetts General, the Mayo Clinic, Toronto Sick Kids, and Texas Children's Hospital, and he always said that the Heart Institute was just as top-notch.

Michael passed away suddenly on November 21, 2011 at the age of 52. The Michael Rooney and Family Endowment Fund with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute is a "forever" gift in honour of Michael, who will be "forever" in our hearts. The Michael Rooney and Family Endowment Fund is also a legacy for our three children: David, Sarah and Johnathan.

In 2012, we started the Run For Roon, as part of the Ottawa Race Weekend , in support of the Michael Rooney & Family Endowment Fund. For the past 14 years, the Run For Roon Team has run the 2km, 5km, 10km, 1/2 marathon or marathon and each year our Team has grown not only in terms of runners but amazing supporters too.

As a result, the Endowment Fund currently stands at an incredible $112,000. Each year, a portion of the Fund supports priorities of the Ottawa Heart Institute.

As many of our family and friends know, the work of the Heart Institute and our endowment fund has become more important and meaningful than we ever imagined. Going forward, the annual allocations from the Fund shall be directed to support the research activities of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic (ACHDC), with priority given to research currently in progress related to Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). It will also support patients transitioning from CHEO(Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario) to the Heart Institute.

Thank you!

Life is Good!