INDIANAPOLIS -
More than 1,000 women will attend the Go Red For Women luncheon Friday at the JW Marriott downtown. The event serves as a fundraiser for the American Heart Association, expected to raise more than $600,000 in the continued fight against heart disease and stroke.
Money raised goes to local research.
In the past five years, the AHA has invested over $9 million in 77 research studies at Indiana universities.
Heart disease is the number-one killer of women, accounting for one death in three. But only half of women recognize it as their leading killer. In fact, just more than 50 percent would call 911 if they were having heart attack symptoms.
Ninety-percent of women have at least one risk factor, but the vast majority of heart disease is preventable.
Take Beth Bates of Carmel. When she was 38 years old, with two young children, she never would have suspected a heart attack.
"I was young," Bates recalled. "And I was physically fit. And at a good healthy weight, and had no family history of heart disease. And so when I was extremely tired, of course I wouldn't expect heart disease, but the night of my heart attack, I had crushing chest and back pain and just knew I needed to get to the hospital."
Extreme fatigue was an early symptom for Beth.
Other signs of a heart attack include:
- chest pain
- discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
- shortness of breath
- cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness
During the eight years since her attack, Bates has worked on managing stress, and continues to exercise.
She just finished a marathon relay in October, and she's also helped spread awareness at various Go Red for Women events.
"Since heart disease is the number one killer of women," Bates said, "it's important for other women to see women who look like them - your neighbor, people you see every day at school, or at your job - that's it's just really common."
To continue the education, Saturday, there will be a Go Red for Women Casting Call from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Macy's inside the Castleton Square Mall.
Hoosier women are invited to share their heart stories for a chance to become the official "faces" of the national Go Red For Women campaign and possibly appear in a national television special.
They may also serve as the face of Go Red For Women in their own communities.
Beth Bates has attended this event and says it's very encouraging to see all the inspiring women who shared her experience.
WTHR is a proud sponsor of the Go Red bracelet. Proceeds benefit the American Heart Association. Learn more.
Casting call for Go Red event
