Pulmonary Pints, an annual fundraiser in Baltimore to raise money and increase awareness of pulmonary hypertension (PH), will celebrate its milestone 10th anniversary Saturday, October 6. Participants will enjoy live music, raffles, amazing food and drink specials. This year’s attendees hope to celebrate the event’s 10-year anniversary by achieving a $100,000 fundraising milestone!
Pulmonary Pints is the creation of sisters Katy (Boehk) Hayes and Ashley Boehk. In 2009, they set out to raise money in honor of their mother, Kathy Boehk, who had been living with PH for more than 10 years. In its first year, Katy and Ashley created a pub crawl through Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood. That year, there were two dozen participants who raised $2,000. Shortly after the first event, Kathy lost her battle, and Katy and Ashley committed to continuing the event in memory of their mom and in honor of all people living with PH.
Pulmonary Pints has continued to grow each year. In the 10 years Katy and Ashley have hosted this event, Pulmonary Pints has raised almost $100,000! No longer a pub crawl, the sisters have found a home at one of Baltimore’s hot spots, Nick’s Fish House, which is located just outside of Federal Hill, right on the water. The event now draws more than 200 people each year. The success of Pulmonary Pints can be attributed to the support they have received from sponsors and donations of goods, services and money.
When asked how the 10-year milestone makes Katy feel, she responded, “I never would have thought a small get-together started by two sisters would grow to an annual event that raises on average $10-13,000 each year! Ten years is a big milestone. I’m very proud of our efforts and hope we are helping others and working toward a cure for PH.”
For more information about Pulmonary Pints, to register or make a donation, visit www.O2breathe.org/pints. Katy and her family also will be at the Baltimore O2 breathe Walk Sunday, September 9, at the Canton Waterfront Park, to answer questions and share information about Pulmonary Pints. (For more information about the Baltimore O2breathe Walk, visit www.O2breathe.org/Baltimore.)
Pulmonary Pints is a part of the national O2breathe™ event series, which is sponsored in part by Platinum Sponsor, Actelion Pharmaceuticals.
Pulmonary Pints founders and sisters Katy (Boehk) Hayes, left, and Ashley Boehk share a moment during a previous fundraiser.
Participants in a previous Pulmonary Pints event.
