New Go Red experience debuts in Rochester

A new Go Red for Women experience is coming to the Rochester area.

The popular Go Red for Women Luncheon will be transformed into an online Go Red for Women Experience to support the fight to end heart disease and stroke. This year, participants can take part whenever their schedule allows with a flexible format. More than 30 sites, including sponsors, companies, and volunteers, will be setting aside time for employees and participants to watch the Go Red for Women Experience.

Participants will receive a video link they can use to watch the program at any time on Thursday, February 18th. The American Heart Association is making it easy to enjoy a healthy, informative, and entertaining event. Healthy lunches will be delivered to several companies with employees taking part in the program.

The Go Red for Women Experience is designed to raise awareness of the number one killer of women: cardiovascular disease. The event is chaired by Lauren Dixon, board chairwoman at Dixon Schwabl, along with her daughters and daughters-in-law.

“Go Red for Women is dedicated to removing the barriers women face to experiencing good health and wellbeing,” said Go Red Chairwoman Lauren Dixon. “That includes things like raising awareness of the risks for women, and encouraging women to embrace the opportunity to take control of their health. Protecting and preserving the health of our community is something my family and I are very committed to, and I’ve been honored to serve as the chairwoman of this campaign.”

With the evolving impact of coronavirus in communities across the country, many women are facing new challenges keeping them from their day-to-day activities. The Go Red for Women® Luncheons nationwide moved digital to support women where they are and continue to spotlight the lifesaving work of the Association and the Go Red for Women movement. These signature events will be held as a virtual gathering, to prioritize the safety and well-being of guests and families during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

While nearly 80 percent of cardiac events may be prevented, cardiovascular disease continues to be a woman’s greatest health threat. One in three women live with some form of cardiovascular disease and it’s on the rise in younger women.

The Go Red for Women movement also works to address the gender and racial inequities that women face in access to, and quality of, care. Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of more Black women than all forms of cancer, accidents, assaults and Alzheimer’s Disease – combined. Hispanic women in their 20s are nearly eight times more likely to die from CVD than breast cancer.

To prevent cardiovascular disease, women should understand family health history, know their numbers and make lifestyle changes like moving more, eating smart and managing their blood pressure. Risk factors that are within women’s control include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, poor diet, obesity/overweight and diabetes.

This year marks the 17th anniversary of the American Heart Association’s launch of the Go Red for Women Movement nationwide. Go Red for Women is rooted in raising awareness among women that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women around the world.

The Rochester Go Red for Women Experience is sponsored nationally by CVS Health and locally by Signature Sponsor Dixon Schwabl and additional sponsors American Packaging, ESL, Excell Partners, Paychex, Rochester Regional Health, Trevett Cristo, UR Medicine, Alesco Advisors, The Burke Group, Mengel Metzger Barr CPA, Gallina and Phillips Lytle. Media sponsors are 13 WHAM TV and Mix 100.5 Radio.