Singer Cindy Mamchur was 43 years old when she suffered a heart attack on her way to work. That was 10 years ago.

Today, to reduce the risk of another attack, she is one of the many people who use the cardiac rehabilitation and risk reduction services at the Dr. Paul Schwann Applied Health and Research Centre at the University of Regina.

"The Paul Schwann Centre designed and now supervises an exercise program that is an essential part of my recovery," says Mamchur. "What I really love is that it is a safe place to exercise," she adds. "We have a crash cart and there is a physician on duty. And let's say I was having chest pain and I didn't know where the pain was coming from - if it's muscular or cardiac - then if it's necessary, they can use an ECG (electrocardiography) machine. That gives me piece of mind."

The Dr. Paul Schwann Applied Health and Research Centre also provides information, motivation and access to a support group as a support for Mamchur and all patrons of the Centre.

In addition, Mamchur found music to be an important part of both her physical and emotional recovery.

"After I had my bypass, the very first thing I did was I went into my music room and sang," says Mamchur. "I think what that did was help build my lungs back up - when you have heart surgery, it also affects your lungs. And then for chest discomfort I got my guitar out and I played that, even if I played it for two minutes, and I kept building my strength up every day."

It wasn't too long after that Mamchur formed her band Chili Lounge with cardiac surgeon Dr. Stephen Korkola, lead guitar and perfusionist (heart-lung machine technician) Steven Dickie on rhythm guitar.

It is not surprising that raising awareness about heart disease is important to the group. On June 12, they will lend their support to the cause and play at The Way to a Girl's Heart gala hosted by the Heart and Stroke foundation and the Prairie Cardiac Foundation at Innovation Place.

The evening will feature Saskatchewan artists, designers, local fitness centres and chefs.

More information about the event can be found at the Prairie Cardiac Foundation web site at: http://prairiecardiacfoundation.com.

For more information on the Dr. Paul Schwann Applied Health and Research Centre, visit www.uregina.ca/dpsc/