Midlands Go Red For Women Campaign Raises over $117,000 for Women’s Heart Health Research & Education
June 8, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Over 220 women dressed in red on Thursday, May 28 and attended the American Heart Association’s Annual Midlands Go Red For Women Luncheon at the Downtown Columbia Marriott. Chaired by Columbia College President, Beth Dinndorf, attendees learned how to recognize and prevent heart disease for themselves and their families and helped raise more than double the funds raised last year. Over $117,000 was raised throughout the year in the Midlands for Go Red For Women through a variety of events. The Luncheon served as the culmination of this year’s campaign for the Go Red For Women initiative to help fund life-saving research and education impacting women here in the Midlands.
“The success of this year’s Go Red For Women movement was truly a collaborative effort” said Dinndorf. “The talented and passionate team of 28 Midlands Executive Leaders and the generosity of the Midlands community made an incredible impact on the lives of women in our area.”
The Go Red For Women Luncheon’s program included keynote speaker Yolanda Smith, mother of former University of South Carolina and San Francisco 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore. Smith, a heart disease survivor, shared her inspirational story and reminded guests of the importance of taking care of their health.
Attendees also heard the incredible story of 42-year-old Christine Gallagher, who was misdiagnosed with anxiety for five years before her heart attack and subsequent double bypass surgery.
Heart disease and stroke claim the lives of more South Carolina women than all forms of cancer combined. One in every three women in the U.S.—approximately 16 women in SC every day—loses her life to heart disease or stroke. However, 80% of cardiac events in women are preventable.
“Heart disease and stroke do not discriminate,” said Katie Gillig, Development Director at the American Heart Association (AHA). “Women have the power to change those statistics by knowing their risk factors including blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels, and by making heart-healthy lifestyle changes to decrease their heart disease risk.”
The Annual Midlands Go Red For Women Luncheon was sponsored nationally by Macy’s and locally by 28 Midlands businesses and individuals. To learn more about the Go Red For Women movement or the Annual Midlands Luncheon, please call 803.806.3091 or visit midlandsscgoredluncheon.heart.org
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country.
