The Troy Rotary Club and the Pike Medical Foundation are hosting Balloon Launch 2015 to raise money for the renovation of the Troy Regional Medical Center Emergency Department.

Balloons will be launched on Oct. 22 in an attempt to see which balloon can travel the farthest. People who find the balloons can call the number on the attached card. Whoever finds the balloon that traveled the farthest wins $100, and the one who purchased the ticket for that balloon wins $1,000.

Last year’s winning balloon was found in Macon, Ga., and was purchased by Vickie Bowen Sipper, a Troy Rotarian.

Last year’s Balloon Launch raised approximately $25,000, and all the money went toward the renovation of the admission and waiting area fro the TRMC Emergency Department. This year the goal is to raise $30,000 for the ER bays.

“We hope to raise enough money to install glass walls in the emergency room bays,” said Karen Herring, marketing and medical staff services with TRMC. “If those rooms are surrounded by glass instead of curtains, it will provide more security and privacy for the families and patients and there would be less noise when a physician is working with a patient.”

Before the balloons are released, there will be a hot air balloon tethered behind TRMC near the helipad available for free rides. A bouncy house will also be available for children.

Tickets can be purchased for $100 each, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the renovation of the TRMC Emergency Department.

“Our emergency department serves so many people in this community,” Herring said. “We are doing something for the community, and the people are doing something very important for Troy Regional Medical Center. It’s a win, win.”

For more information or to purchase a ticket, contact Herring at 670-5487 or by emailing karen.herring@troymedicalcenter.com. Tickets can also be purchased through any member for the Pike Medical Foundation, Troy Rotarians or TRMC managers.

Balloon Launch 2015 will begin at 3:30 p.m. behind TRMC near the helipad. Balloons will be released at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will be available. The public is invited.

“It amazes me the support that we got last year on the first balloon launch, and it’s already being supported this year by the community,” Herring said. “It’s great to have an event that you know exactly where the money is going to be used.”