FAIRHOPE — For the past six weeks, the Bruno’s stores in Fairhope and Spanish Fort have been raising money to support Thomas Hospital’s Cardiac Health and Rehab Center.

It is all part of the 2008 Regions Charity Classic, presented by Bruno’s, Golf Ball Promotion where each Bruno’s customer has the opportunity to donate one dollar at the checkout. For each dollar raised, a paper golf ball has been hung in the store.

“At the beginning of the promotion, all Bruno’s stores were able to select a charity within their community to raise money for,” said District Manager David Powell. “The stores in Fairhope and Spanish Fort decided to support the Thomas Hospital Foundation’s new cardiac rehab facility,” Powell continued.

Together, the two locations have collected more than $5,000 for the hospital.

Thomas Hospital’s Cardiac Health and Rehab Center is a medically-supervised program designed to improve a patient’s quality of life after a cardiac event.

During the 12-week rehab program, nurses and physicians closely monitor a patient’s blood pressure and heart rate as the individual regains his strength through exercise.

“In each of Bruno’s five districts, the store raising the most money will be matched, up to $5,000, by the Regions Charity Foundation,” said Powell. “The promotion ends on Sunday, May 18 and the stores within the local district are in a fight to the finish. We encourage the local community to take advantage of the opportunity to support local charities.”