Some 500 women are expected to gather at the Hilton Rye Town Feb. 13 for the American Heart Association”™s sixth annual “Go Red for Women” luncheon.
Each year, more than 460,000 women die from cardiovascular disease, according to the association.
“Most women don”™t realize that heart disease is their number-one health threat; in fact, one in 4.6 women will die of cancer while one in 2.6 will die of cardiovascular disease,” said Joan Lunden, author, former “Good Morning America” host and 2009 keynote speaker for Westchester”™s Go Red luncheon.
The event will include speakers and a “Super Mom”™s Roundtable,” an interactive panel session.
“We want women to walk away with a lightbulb moment, for them to wake up and say, ”˜I”™m important and in order for me to work, serve my family and do all of these different things that super moms do ”¦ I have to take care of me first. I have to be heart healthy,” said Traci Alexander, educational program chairperson for the event.
Many of the scheduled panelists agreed.
“Women are usually the community organizers of the family,” said Dr. Lynne Perry-Böttinger, president of Clinical and Interventional Cardiology P.L.L.C. and faculty member at Cornell and Columbia universities. “It makes women aware that they can develop heart disease and it can be just as devastating as it is in men and just as crippling, disabling and destructive to the family.”
Millie Becker, president of Skyqueen Enterprises in Pound Ridge, talked about choices.
“I”™m at the deli counter at the Food Emporium with women who worked on Wall Street, who used to get a massage every week and now, they”™re looking at the price of ham,” she said. “You have to make choices, and one choice you want to make is to better your health.”
Amy Hall, director of social consciousness for Eileen Fisher Inc. in Irvington, talked about sharing experiences. “Being busy moms, to share what we do and how we get through things in our lives with all of these women who are coming to this luncheon ”¦ it”™s a great opportunity.”
Panel member Carolyn Glickstein, tennis coach at Edgemont High School in Scarsdale and geriatric care manager in private practice, discussed the feeling of being stretched thin. “As an older woman, having started this career and that career, fundraising and being on boards, it”™s stressful ”¦ it all adds up.”
Throw in the economic downturn and the stage is set for rising stress levels.
“The economy is a very important topic right now,” said Sharon Epperson, personal finance reporter for CNBC and guest on the panel. “It”™s a stressful time. People are affected by their personal finances or their corporation”™s finances.”
“It is important to do something that is price-sensitive in this economy, that gives you something,” said Patricia Hayling Price, president of Exceednow L.L.C., remarking on the national campaign. “You are giving back to us by buying a ticket and in exchange ”¦ we want everyone to walk away with something tangible ”¦ to say, ”˜I”™m going to do this for me.”™”
Individual tickets for the Go Red for Women luncheon are $200 and tables start at $3,000. For information, call 640-3262.
The Doubletree Hotel in Tarrytown will be presenting the “Everything Your Heart Desires” pre-Valentine”™s Day lingerie and jewelry show Feb. 5, from 6 to 10 p.m.; proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association. Tickets are $25; $5 per ticket will be contributed to the Association. For information, call Judie Galvin at 524-6418.
