Upper Valley’s 2023 Go Red for Women Luncheon brings women and men together to combat women’s leading health threat on Feb. 17th

Heart disease and stroke remain leading causes of death in New Hampshire women. The good news? Most cardiovascular diseases are preventable with healthy lifestyle changes.

Haley Bouley

Learn more about women’s heart and brain health at the American Heart Association’s Upper Valley Go Red for Women Luncheon on Friday, February 17th at the Hilton Garden Inn Hanover Lebanon. The Association’s signature annual event, emceed by Haley Bouley of ABC22 & FOX44 News, will provide lifesaving education, networking opportunities, a heart-healthy lunch, and Hands-Only CPR demonstrations to help you learn how to “Be the Beat” and save a life.

Melissa Golightly 

“While the majority of cardiac events may be prevented, cardiovascular diseases continue to be a woman’s greatest health threat. One in three women is living with some form of cardiovascular disease and it kills one woman about every 80 seconds,” said Melissa Golightly MSN, MHCDS, FACE, the event’s chairwoman and Director of Adult Inpatient Surgical Centers and Heart and Vascular Center at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. “These diseases can affect a woman at any age, making it vital for all women to understand their personal risk factors and family history.”

Erika Brown, PhD, Dean of Faculty Affairs at the Geisel Medical School at Dartmouth is the keynote speaker and will address attendees on women’s heart health, including the latest research on why women are sometimes less likely to receive bystander CPR. Volunteers will be on hand to demonstrate Hands-Only CPR to help attendees learn this simple, yet very effective technique.

David B. Min, MD, cardiologist at Dartmouth Hitchcock, will moderate a panel discussion with area heart disease and stroke survivors. This new event component will give guests an opportunity to ask local survivors questions to learn about heart disease and stroke signs and symptoms, treatments, recovery, and how to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

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. This awareness campaign encourages women to take charge of their heart health by understanding their family health history, knowing their numbers and making lifestyle changes like moving more, eating smart and managing blood pressure.

“During American Heart Month in February, we hope you can ‘Be the Beat’ for a woman you love – or for yourself – by attending the Go Red for Women Luncheon,” said Golightly.

The Upper Valley Go Red for Women Luncheon is sponsored nationally by CVS Health and locally by Great Eastern Radio; ABC22 & FOX44 News; Mascoma Bank; New Hampshire Business Review; and New Hampshire Magazine.

For company sponsorships – which provide a full table for guests – or individual tickets, visit NHGoRed.Heart.org, or contact Brian Shankey at Brian.Shankey@Heart.org.