Chair, Honorees Announced for Maine’s 2021 Go Red for Women® Luncheon

Announcing our plans for the 2021 Maine Go Red for Women® Luncheon (Digital Experience) to support the fight to end heart disease and stroke in women! This signature event will be held on March 30, 2021 as a digital experience to prioritize the safety and well-being of guests and families during the pandemic.

Robin Hodgskin

The Go Red for Women Luncheon will feature inspiring survivor

Rich Petersen

stories, heart-health education particularly related to COVID-19, and the presentation of two Crystal Heart Awards. This year’s honorees are Robin Hodgskin, Senior Vice President with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and Rich Petersen, President of MaineHealth/CEO of Maine Medical Center.

 

Amanda Rand

Chaired by Amanda Rand, President/CEO of Spinnaker Trust, the event is designed to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for women in the United States, as well as generate funds for lifesaving cardiovascular research. “I am thrilled to chair the Go Red for Women Luncheon this year and help to educate more families about the warning signs of a stroke and support the important research of the American Heart Association,” said Rand.

“I am a proud survivor of a stroke, which I suffered following the birth of my third child. I had just arrived home with my daughter from her two-week wellness check, when my husband noticed my face drooping and my speech slurred. He immediately called 911, and I was rushed to the hospital. My stroke was the result of a carotid artery dissection likely suffered during childbirth, and thanks to AHA research and an experimental procedure at Maine Medical Center, I am one of the lucky survivors without lingering effects. I know other families do not have the same outcomes.”

The Association is working diligently to provide reliable, science-based information for the approximately 120 million people in the United States who currently have one or more cardiovascular conditions and who already may be at higher risk for COVID-19 complications. For women this is vital as nearly half (48%) of women in the United States age 20 and up have some form of cardiovascular disease.1 For those living with heart disease or having survived a stroke, preventing the virus is key.

Rand will be assisted members of the Go Red for Women Executive Leadership Team which include: Sam Commeau, Bank of America; Catherine Desrochers, Acadia Benefits; Joan Fortin, Bernstein Shur; Lucie Hannigan: People’s United Bank; Gail Hatem, Hannaford Supermarkets; Robin Hodgskin, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management; Eric Jermyn, Cross Employee Benefits; Janice Latulippe, BerryDunn; Marie Leavitt, IDEXX; Joan Smith: Baker Newman Noyes; Melanie Tinto, WEX; Kim Twitchell, NBT Bank; Linda Varrell, Broadreach Public Relations; and Cheri Walker, Albin Randall & Bennett.

Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and the Maine Luncheon is locally sponsored by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Bath Savings Bank, MaineHealth, OceanView at Falmouth, and Spinnaker Trust. Media sponsors are Channel 8 WMTW, Mainebiz and WPOR 101.9.

Go Red for Women launched in 2004 to empower women to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease, which continues to be the leading killer and is on the rise in younger women. However, nearly 80% of cardiac events may be prevented. To protect their health, women should understand family health history, know their numbers – the five key personal health numbers that help determine risk for heart disease: total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index – and make lifestyle changes like moving more, eating smart and managing their blood pressure. Risk factors within women’s control include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, poor diet, obesity/overweight and Type 2 diabetes.

To register and for more information, contact Katie.Rooks@Heart.org or visit MaineGoRedLuncheon.Heart.org