Paper crafts have always been important to Anne Granger. That passion became her saving grace when her husband Corrie died unexpectedly of an aortic dissection in 2017.

“Scrapbooking and cardmaking is my healing, my therapy,” she shares. “I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have that.”

In 2018, she decided to channel her love for teaching the art of paper crafts into a special purpose: raising money to support St. Joseph’s Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention (CRSP) Program. The annual Scrapbooking Crop in Memory of Corrie fundraising event has become a staple for her community in Dorchester – and a special way for her and her family to honour Corrie’s memory.

Granger works in education, and she also works as an independent Stampin’ Up demonstrator on the side – her passion project. She says that her husband always went above and beyond to support her business, helping her set up events, serving refreshments during classes and chatting with guests.

On the day he died, there were no signs that Corrie was heading for a catastrophic heart event. The 44-year-old millwright, husband and loving father to daughters Emily and Alison was in good health. “I got a phone call at work that he had collapsed, and by the time I got to the hospital he was gone,” Granger recalls.

Days to remember

She knew she wanted to honour his memory and process some of her grief by giving back to an important cause. Her brother-in-law Warren Granger, a longtime supporter of St. Joseph’s, connected her to the CRSP Program. It was a perfect fit, and the Crop was born.

The event has grown year over year, with more participants, more activities and more money raised to help people and families recovering after a cardiac event. It’s an all-day affair with lots of scrapbooking, card making, raffles, special gifts, food and refreshments.

And it’s a family affair, too. Granger’s mother-in-law – Corrie’s mother – passed away in 2022, but she always enjoyed being part of the Crop to celebrate her son’s memory. “My mother-in-law loved these days, because we honour Corrie all day. We really incorporate him into the event, from his favourite foods to his favourite hobbies.”

Bettering her best

She is planning to host 50 people for the 2025 event, making it the biggest group of participants yet. All funds raised support the Corrie Granger Memorial Fund at St. Joseph’s to help enhance care provided to patients through the CRSP program. Cardiac rehab is an important part of the journey of care after someone experiences heart disease or a heart event, helping them recover strength and function and prevent secondary events and complications. The program touches the lives of thousands of families in Southwestern Ontario every year.

During the past seven years, event proceeds have been used to purchase essential equipment and technology like vital signs and blood pressure monitors. High blood pressure is considered a ‘silent’ risk factor for heart disease because it rarely has symptoms, so it’s critical to track it accurately during someone’s care journey. Looking ahead, Granger hopes to continue making a difference in the lives of patients and their families.

“I can’t believe how many people I’ve met who have also been impacted by heart health,” Granger says. “For me, if I can help someone else not have to get that phone call that I did, then I’m doing the right thing. It’s comforting in our own healing journey to know that we’re helping others. Knowing that we’re helping to raise money for people receiving cardiac care is healing our hearts, too.”