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In the fast-paced world we live in, women are faced with the demanding challenge of balancing their careers, the well-being and safety of their families, school commitments, daily chores, errands, and a myriad of other responsibilities. They dedicate themselves selflessly, often neglecting their own health in the process. Tragically, this is why heart disease and stroke, surpassing all types of cancer combined, claim the lives of more women.
Women embody various roles: mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, partners, friends, warriors, executives, and leaders. United by purpose and bound by passion, we are revolutionizing the narrative, ensuring that every woman has the opportunity to lead a long and healthy life.
For over a decade, the Go Red for Women movement has reached millions of women, educating them about the leading cause of death: cardiovascular disease. However, a new obstacle looms before us; recent research reveals that younger women and women of color lack awareness regarding this genuine threat. The stats are staggering. In the United States, cardiovascular disease kills approximately 1 in 3 women each year.
What is Go Red for Women?
In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) faced a challenge. Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an older man’s disease. To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease and stroke as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red for Women, a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.
KISS Cares
As a proud sponsor of the event, the KISS team rallied to BE THE BEAT and it was such of pleasure to attend the 2023 NWA Go Red for Women Luncheon. Some 1,500 people gathered on a Tuesday afternoon at the Rogers Convention Center in Rogers, AR to support the cause and the energy in the room was nothing short of spectacular. KISS nails and lashes added a little extra glam to the life-saving event.
Event Emcees
The Go Red for Women Luncheon emcees were former sports broadcaster Danyelle Sargent-Musselman and co-anchor for 5NEWS Alexandra Burnley.
Inspiring Survivor
Danyelle Sargent-Musselman’s sister Kimberly Sargent shared her deeply personal and powerful heart transplant survival story at the event, and her words left a lasting impact on everyone in the room.
Keynote Speakers: HGTV’s Dave & Jenny Mars
I had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time with the keynote speakers, Dave and Jenny Mars, the husband-and-wife duo who turn fixer uppers to fabulous homes on their popular HGTV show “Fixer to Fabulous”. In addition to having five children, they restore historic homes in their neighborhood of Bentonville, Arkansas, and run Marrs Developing, a company that specializes in restoring and renovating historic homes in the Northwest Arkansas area. When I asked them how they juggle running a business, filming a TV show, and keeping up with five children, Dave described his life a “beautifully busy”.
“It’s all about enjoying the space and time that you’re in,” he said. “They’ll be a lot of great parts that you will miss if you are too stressed and too worried. It’s all about enjoying what we have, the people around us, and the community we live in.” Jenny added how important it is to prioritize when there is so much you need to get done. “There is so much that you just have to let go,” she told me. “The most important thing is that we are caring for ourselves, each other, and our kids…everything else will just fall into place.”
Forging Ahead
The American Heart Association is constantly finding innovative ways to raise awareness about the risk of heart disease among all women, empowering them to take charge of their well-being. Good heart health is not a destination but a lifelong journey, and Go Red for Women aims to be a trusted health partner, walking hand-in-hand with women through every age and stage. Moreover, they are tirelessly dedicated to expediting scientific progress, advancing public health policies, and fostering greater female involvement in research and STEM fields – achievements made possible by the invaluable support of individuals like you.”
The more a woman knows about heart disease and stroke, the better chance she has of beating it. Cardiovascular disease causes 1 in 3 deaths among women each year. However, the large majority of these deaths are preventable with education and healthy lifestyles. If you want to open your hear and help saves lives, you can DONATE HERE
