Jen Page, left, and Sarah Baluch are the new co-chairs of The Circle of Red.
They both work in fields where they see firsthand the health of Capital Region residents – and they want to take steps to help improve it.
To do that, Sarah Baluch and Jennifer Page have stepped forward to lead the Circle of Red. The Circle of Red is a group of women who support the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement at a significant financial level.
“I work in the restaurant industry, and have seen the rise in obesity,” said Sarah Baluch, director of restaurant sales for BBL Hospitality and past chair of the Go Red for Women Luncheon. “If we can educate one person about how to live a healthier lifestyle, we can change one life. The Go Red for Women mission is something I want to keep bringing to the Capital Region.” Page is a performance management coordinator at CDPHP.
“My job is to collaborate with provider groups to improve patient experience, strategize to lower the cost of health care, and improve the overall health of the population,” Page said. “At CDPHP we believe prevention and member education is key. The American Heart Association stresses both, and I’m excited to collaborate with an organization that shares the same belief.”
Kathy Lanni, the community support executive at SEFCU and chair of the Capital Region Advisory Board of the American Heart Association, and Patty Fusco, president and CEO of Fusco Personnel, and past board member of the American Heart Association, launched the Circle of Red in 2011.
“Kathy and Patty are strong leaders in our community, and we are honored to follow in their footsteps and continue to bring to life the vision they have for the Circle of Red,” Page, 34, said.
“Our end goal is to bring awareness and education to men and women of all ages about heart disease,” Baluch, 36, said. “We want to do that by intertwining educational and networking opportunities, ultimately increasing membership and involvement.”
They also plan to revive The Red Tie Society, a group of men who support the Go Red for Women movement.
“I love the idea of men and women getting together as a support system and keeping the mission of Go Red in mind,” said Baluch, whose degree is from Bay Path College and who is a past Business Review 40 Under 40 recipient.
To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease and stroke as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red For Women, a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.
“We definitely need to keep spreading the word that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and educating women about what the signs are, so we can continue making progress,” Page, a SUNY Oneonta grad, said.
There are currently 30 Circle of Red members.
To learn more about joining the local Circle of Red, contact Senior Director, Go Red for Women at the American Heart Association, at 518.626.8756 or [email protected].
Facts About Heart Disease in Women
- Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year.
- A woman dies every 80 seconds of heart disease.
- 90% percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease.
- Women have a higher lifetime risk for stroke than men.
- 80% of heart disease and stroke can be prevented by lifestyle change.
- The symptoms of heart attack can be different in men than women.
- Women involved in the Go Red for Women movement lead healthier lives.