Annual Campaign Helps Raise Awareness about Heart Disease
Feb. 08, 2010
WHITE PLAINS: Westchester County Clerk Timothy Idoni’s office reaffirmed its annual commitment to raising awareness about women and heart disease with a successful fundraiser in support of the “Go Red for Women” movement. On “Go Red for Women Day”, February 5th at the clerk’s office in White Plains, the staff raised $2,000 from a bake sale, raffle and brisk sales of “Go Red for Women” ribbons, pins, and bracelets. “Go Red” is a national campaign of the American Heart Association (AHA) that aims to educate women about the risks of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
“The statistics are indisputable and troubling. Heart disease is by far the number one killer of women, even more than all forms of cancer and other top leading diseases that cause death,” stated Idoni, whose own mother, Florence Idoni, succumbed from complications of the disease in 2006. “Too often heart disease is the catalyst that can lead to significant risk of diabetes, hypertension and stroke if left untreated. There is hope, however, as the disease is largely preventable, especially if steps are taken to be more heart smart and adopt a healthier lifestyle,” Idoni concluded.
The County Clerk “Go Red for Women” annual campaign began in 2007 and continues to grow each year with overwhelming support from employees, of which more than 64 percent are women. As in previous “Go Red” efforts, staff members help raise awareness by wearing red and support of the annual bake sale and raffle.
Proceeds from the bake sale, which featured an assortment of delicious home-baked goods, fresh fruit and healthy snacks donated by staff, and the raffle will go to the American Heart Association to continue the fight against heart disease in women. To find out more information about the nationwide “Go Red for Women” movement, or to make a donation, contact the local Westchester/Putnam regional office of the American Heart Association at (914) 694-6464 or visit http://www.goredforwomen.org/.