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This year, more than 250 people dressed in red attended the South Florida’s annual Go Red for Women Luncheon to honor survivors, celebrate advancements in heart health and chart a new course toward a world free of cardiovascular disease, which claims the lives of 1 in 3 women. In South Florida, over 4,000 women die from heart disease every year.
“Whether it’s learning CPR, joining Research Goes Red, knowing your own risk factors, having an honest conversation with your doctor, or empowering another woman to prioritize her own health and well-being, there are so many ways to create a legacy of health in our families and our community,” said Marisol Garcia, executive director of the American Heart Association’s Greater Miami and Fort Lauderdale market.
On Friday May 17th guests rallied at the Diplomat Beach Resort and raised funds to save and improve women’s lives by advancing equitable research and care, advocating for inclusive health policies and raising awareness of women’s number one health threat, cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The hosts of the afternoon were news anchors Alejandra Molina with Telemundo51 and Trina Robinson with NBC6. The co-chairs who championed this year’s campaign were Ana VeigaMilton with the José Milton Foundation and Kathy Salerno with Broward Health.
“This year we united two counties under one heart.” said VeigaMilton. “Helping to lead this campaign is personal to me because my family is my WHY. My father has had an implantable pacemaker for over 25 years, helping his heart keep pace. If you, like me, have a family member who was saved by an implantable pacemaker, immediate CPR or the use of an AED, or rapid treatment for a stroke – this is all thanks, in part, to the American Heart Association. “
“I chose to support this campaign to celebrate the progress we’ve made over 20 years but more importantly, to inspire the South Florida community to demand more,” said Salerno. “But we can’t do it alone. Go Red for your mother, your daughter, your friends, and yourself. Because when we come together, we can motivate, educate, support and help save each other.”
One hundred years after its founding, the American Heart Association, devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all, looks to its premier women’s movement, Go Red for Women®, to help usher in a second century of pioneering progress towards health equity for women.
Since 2004, the Go Red for Women movement has addressed the awareness and clinical care gaps of CVD for women. As the movement celebrates 20 years of making an impact, the Association calls on all women to take charge of their health and make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of their community.
Randi Gold, the Go Red for Women Circle of Red chair shares her motivation for supporting the mission, “In 2018, my best friend Pam Africk faced a life-threatening widowmaker heart attack, and watching her miraculous recovery was a wake-up call. My mission is personal and unwavering: to fight against heart disease and prevent others from experiencing the fear and pain of nearly losing someone they love. Pam’s journey is my ‘why,’ and it fuels my dedication to this cause.”
Women experience ages, stages and seasons of life that increase their risk for cardiovascular disease. CVD is the leading cause of death in women, claiming more lives than all cancers combined. Nearly 45% of women over age 20 are living with some form of CVD. In fact, it’s the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S., or more simply put, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms and pregnancy-related deaths are on the rise. Yet, younger generations of women, Gen Z and Millennials, are less likely to be aware of their greatest health threat, including knowing the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes. That’s why it’s important for all women to take charge of their heart health and encourage others to do the same.
Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and the South Florida Go Red for Women Luncheon is locally sponsored by Broward Health. For more information contact visit www.heart.org/sflgored.
