A Message From Our Chair
Dear Friends,
In the 30 minutes it took me to write this letter, nearly 30 women died from heart disease. Heart disease is now the number one killer of women, claiming more than 460,000 lives each year. Tragically, far too few women realize the enormity of the risk and so do not make the choices that can prevent heart disease. We need to raise women’s awareness, to protect our mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and other loved ones. And ourselves.
That is the mission of Go Red for Women. As anyone knows who has ever faced a group of women on a mission, we will have our way. How? By doing what women do best: caring for others and speaking up for what’s right. But we also must do something that does not come so easily to us: we must take care of our ourselves first.
I hope visiting this website is just the first step in what will become your passionate commitment to “Go Red for Women.” Why red? It is the color of our hearts—the symbol of love and passion. It also is a color that, like us, cannot be ignored.
I invite you to share your unique combination of energy, power, passion, and creativity with those of us who are so committed to defeating this killer of those so dear to our hearts. Our theme this year is “Our Hearts. Our Choice.” I hope you will take this short saying to heart and then share it with others. Starting here, starting now, here’s how:
First, take care of yourself by taking charge of your own heart health. Visit your doctor. Know your numbers. You can improve your blood pressure, cholesterol and other numbers by making lifestyle changes. You’ll be healthier and look and feel better, too. Take a few minutes right now to learn more at goredforwomen.org.
Second, speak up. Help spread the word that heart disease is women’s No. 1 killer. You can make a difference. Choose to share what you learn today with your family and members of your community. Ask them if they know their numbers. If they don’t, tell them why it’s so important to you that they learn their numbers and make the lifestyle changes that will keep them in your life for a good, long time.
Third and last, consider expressing your care and concern by making a contribution. Your donation will help fund local and national Go Red activities to support awareness, research, education, and community programs to benefit women. The size of your gift is unimportant. The work that your gift will do, when combined with other gifts of the heart, will be priceless.
Please don’t leave today without committing to take care of yourself and committing to make a difference for other women. Join the Go Red for Women movement — women need your help. There’s so much to do, and so much at stake. Reducing risk and preventing heart disease starts with education — and you.
Warmly,
Sheri Fox
2011 Go Red Luncheon Chair