With one heart disease-related death and a close call in my immediate family over the past two years, I can't beat the drum loud enough to remind you that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans and the leading cause of death in women. Each year, 1 in 3 women die of heart disease and stroke. The alarming fact: Around 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented.
Since Go Red For Women began in 2004, more than 275 women’s lives have been saved each day. Through its community events on Friday, Feb. 6, the American Heart Association aims to educate people about the risk for heart disease and stroke, encouraging us to share our knowledge with loved ones, and work together to save lives.
Several community events are scheduled for Friday, bookended by a walk on Bayshore Boulevard and a community live mural painting at The Amsterdam bar in St. Petersburg.
The Walk on Bayshore event begins bright and early Friday, Feb. 6, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Park and meet at the Tampa Woman’s Club, 2901 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa. The event will be filled with red balloons, red clothing and shoelaces, stickers to honor the memories of loved ones lost to heart disease and stroke, and physical activity.
On Friday afternoon, the American Heart Association Tampa Bay and The Amsterdam will host host a live mural painting in downtown St. Petersburg 5-8 p.m. Professional artist Sarah Sheppard, who recently completed a vivid mural in the Warehouse Arts District, has started a mural on the exterior wall of The Amsterdam (pictured above) and all are invited are to show up, grab a brush and illustrate or write about their connection to women and heart disease, and to, of course, wear red. The family-friendly event will include blood pressure screenings from St. Pete Fire & Rescue, music from WILD 94.1 and Heart Month goodie bags with red dress pins, cookbooks and educational materials. St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue firefighters/paramedics will offer free blood pressure screenings, and American Heart Association volunteers will pass out red dress pins and Heart Month messages to participants. The Amsterdam is located at 1049 Central Ave., St Petersburg.
For more information about The American Heart Association Tampa Bay, visit Facebook.com/AHATampaBay or tweet @HeartTampaBay, #TBGoRed, Visit GoRedForWomen.org to make a change.
This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2015.