FAIRFAX, Va. -

Sheehy Auto Stores announced Thursday that it has collected a total of $300,000 to donate to the American Heart Association.

This is a record-breaking donation that Sheehy made as part of its annual Sheehy 8000 campaign — a 55-day campaign created to raise funds and awareness for the charity.

From May 11 to July 5, Sheehy said that its dealerships sold a combined 8,029 vehicles to raise funds for its nearly eight-week-long campaign, amid hosting heart-healthy community events, CPR demonstrations and food cooking tutorials for dealership employees.

“Overall, we were very pleased by the response in each of our communities to our big sales push while fund-raising for a great cause,” Sheehy Auto Stores president Vince Sheehy said in a news release. “We are very proud to support the American Heart Association and all they do to educate our community and help prevent the risks of heart disease and stroke.”

In addition to the Sheehy 8000, Sheehy also serves as a sponsor and active partner for the annual National Walking Day event held in April at the Springfield Town Center in Virginia. Each year, the spring event promotes walking and what Sheehy calls a “heart-healthy lifestyle.”

“We are so grateful for the commitment and generosity of the Sheehy team and customers in helping to build healthier communities throughout Sheehy's regions,” said Roxana Hoveyda, vice president of marketing at the American Heart Association. “With more than a million dollars donated in five years through the Sheehy 8000, the impact on our mission has been considerable.”

Last year, the Sheehy 8000 campaign brought in a total of $285,000 for the charity, according to the company.

Founded in 1966, Sheehy claims to have raised more than $40 million for community and non-profit organizations throughout its 50-plus years in business.