FRA –Heart to Heart

OAKLAND (2010 FIBA World Championship) - France’s Ronny Turiaf has been named as the recipient of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for February.

The Golden State Warriors big man has been recognized in part for his ongoing efforts to raise awareness and funding for the prevention, detection, and treatment of life-threatening heart conditions.

The French pivot, who starred for France at last year’s EuroBasket in Poland when they won all of their games bar the Quarter-Final against eventual champions Spain, suffered from a heart condition and underwent open-heart surgery in 2005.

He established his Heart to Heart Foundation in three years later.

“I am happy to be in a position that allows me to support a cause that is close to my heart,” Turiaf said.

“When I needed help, people were there for me.”

To highlight that February is American Heart Month, Turiaf and his mother, Aline, recently filmed a public service announcement with the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center to raise awareness about heart health and encourage others to get regular checkups and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

He also worked with the American Heart Association (AHA) to launch his new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program at an Oakland Boys & Girls Club. As part of the program, Turiaf donated life-saving AEDs to five Bay Area high schools and provided the necessary training for students and school administrators.

“Through my Heart to Heart Foundation,” he said, “I will continue to do whatever I can to prevent the tragic loss of life as a result of heart conditions by providing education, equipment, and treatment to individuals and facilities throughout the Bay Area and beyond.”

Turiaf will be with the France squad this summer at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

FIBA