We Go Red for Women
Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association’s national movement to help women reduce their risk of heart disease. It celebrates the energy, passion and power of women banding together to wipe out heart disease. The Go Red for Women movement encourages women to take action against heart disease and to visit their healthcare providers each year to control blood pressure, cholesterol and weight.
Another reason this campaign is important to me is that I have seen first-hand how many women do not focus on the health of their hearts and do not know the warning signs of a problem. We are exposed to information that applies to men or is based on research with men only. Yet this is the number one killer of women!
In fact, my mother takes great care of my stepfather who has had many heart issues. But if you asked her about her risk for a heart attack or how she would know if she was having a problem, she wouldn’t know. You can bet I will be sharing all the materials I get from Go Red for Women with her and encouraging her to take steps to improve her health so that she is around for a long, long time. I hope Affinity Express can contribute to educating many more women like her.
Look at these facts:
- Heart disease is the #1 killer of women and stroke is the #3 killer of women.
- Heart disease claims the lives of nearly 500,000 women each year—nearly one woman per minute.
- Since 1979, the death rate for heart disease in men has declined by 17%, but the death rate for women has slightly increased over this same period.
- Heart disease kills more woman than the next six causes of death combined.
Originally, the effort was about raising awareness among woman that heart disease is their number one killer and to create emotional appeal for the issue of women and heart disease. As awareness has risen, the focus has shifted to action.
Objectives:
- Continue to raise awareness of women’s risk of heart disease, positioning Go Red for Women as the #1 women’s heart-health brand and the red dress icon as a symbol of women and heart disease.
- Drive behavior change by engaging more women in Go Red for Women and increasing the number of women who know their personal risk of heart disease.
- Expand offerings to reach diverse audiences
- Increase fundraising support for education, outreach and research
I have joined the executive leadership team, and serve along with representatives of Alberto Culver Company, Jewel-Osco, Sara Lee, Cigna, Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, Nestle Waters North America, Sun-Times Media, Rush University Medical Center, Home Run Inn, Inc. and others, as well as the national sponsors Macy’s and Merck. I will help with fundraising and attend gatherings, including the major February Go Red for Women event. I can't wait to get started!