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Worthy Causes:
Go Red for Women

by Stacey Paretti Rase

When you envision a victim of heart disease, what image comes to mind? Most probably you think of a man, usually in his later years, possibly overweight and likely out of shape. The common concept of a heart disease victim is hardly ever a female, under the age of 45, with no true outward warning signs. Yet, according to studies conducted by the American Heart Association, heart disease kills 65,000 more women than men each year—a statistic that’s surprising to most.

During an AHA study, when asked what they believe to be the number one killer of women in the United States, a majority of respondents—a whopping 62 percent—answered cancer. Only eight percent of women in the United States named heart disease. And while cancer is a major killer among women, it doesn’t hold a candle to the devastating statistics of female heart disease victims. Heart disease, in fact, kills more women under the age of 45 than any other disease. And from 1989 to 1996, sudden cardiac death climbed 31 percent among women as young as ages 15 to 34. Another interesting fact is that heart disease kills six times more women than breast cancer.

What do all these numbers and statistics really mean for us women? It shouts loud and clear that there is an enormous disconnect between our view of risk and reality. Two groups of women in the northshore community are making strides to lessen that gap of misunderstanding by hosting educational and fund-raising luncheons titled “Go Red for Women.” The events aim to provide northshore women a supportive, informative and social atmosphere to encourage them to become champions of heart/stroke health and prevention. The idea is to effectively mobilize women as advocates for their families’ health.

“The AHA has put together a comprehensive program in conjunction with several media partners to target women throughout the year,” says Scott R. Bourgeois, AHA regional director. “The program talks about things women can do to reduce their cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as exercise, eating right, watching their stress level and cultivating relationships with their physicians. We want to educate these women on how not to become one of the 1,400 women who die each day from heart disease.”

The first event will be held Wednesday, March 7 at the Northshore Harbor Center, 100 Harbor Blvd., Slidell. The second will take place on Thursday, May 10 at the Castine Center in Mandeville. The heart-healthy food being served is only part of the many wonderful offerings during the program. A slate of morning activities will begin at 10 a.m. in Slidell and at 9:30 a.m. at the Mandeville venue. “There will be a health fair, silent auction and a fashion show MC’d by Stephanie Boswell,” says Rhonda Eckholdt, who is co-chairing the May event with Helene Decorte and Nikki Mena. They are all wives of cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons at Ochsner. Slidell chairs are Freida Hawley and Mary Ellen Kilanowski. There will be breakout sessions specific to women’s heart health topics, such as cooking demonstrations, diet and exercise, stress management and the dangers of obesity. The May silent auction will consist of what Eckholdt calls “typical auction items,” as well as “beautiful artwork with an ‘Art for Heart’ theme, designed by artists from within our community.”

The fashion shows will include numerous local merchants and will feature models who are heart and stroke survivors, heart surgeons and men and women volunteers from throughout the community. Some of the items modeled will be offered as auction items that day.

Committee members have been busy planning since early January. The Slidell luncheon, which is in its third year and raised over $45,000 last year, hopes to bring in over $50,000 this year. The Mandeville group has a lofty goal of $65,000 for its inaugural event. “We sincerely believe we can do it and that this luncheon will become one of St. Tammany’s premiere events in years to come,” says Eckholdt.

Some of the many available wonderful sponsorship packages include tables at the luncheon, the opportunity to host breakout informational sessions with attendees, an ad in the program book and the opportunity to display company logos on all printed material and signage.

Each event will accommodate approximately 500 participants. For tickets and sponsorship information for the Slidell event, contact Wendee Till Bloom, AHA Louisiana Communications & Media Advocacy Director, at (504) 830-2300. For the Mandeville event, contact Bourgeois at (504) 830-2309.

“Although the Mandeville luncheon is not until May, we are encouraging people to call now,” says Eckholdt. “We anticipate that places will go fast!”

While the national Go Red for Women campaign is sponsored by Macy’s and the American Heart Association, the St. Tammany events also rely on the generous support of local sponsors. As of February 15, sponsors of the Mandeville luncheon include Ochsner Clinic Northshore, St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Parish National Bank, Lakeview Regional Medical Center, the Asby Foundation, Fairway Medical Center and Inside Northside. Slidell sponsors include Slidell Memorial Hospital, NorthShore Regional Medical Center and Peoples Health.

Local merchants who are contributing to the Mandeville fashion show include The Worth Collection, H.W. Rosenblum, Doncaster, Bastille’s for Men, Diane’s Boutique, Cabi, The Villa, Southern Bridal, James Napier, Lagniappe Shoes, Perlis, DeLuca’s Expressions in Gold and Fitness Expo. See/Hear Productions will help present the Mandeville fashion show. The Slidell show contributors are Slidell Gowns and Tux, Something Unique, Alley Catz and Merle Norman.