Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/251527
72 BRAVA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2014 Three Passionate Ways CIRCLE OF RED: Advocate for local heart health issues, fundraise and donate $1,000. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM: Fundraise and build aware- ness at the corporate level. PASSION COMMITTEE: A grassroots volunteer group. Contact Brittany.Lee@heart. org. (608) 221-8866. GO+DO CATALYST GO RED, GET INVOLVED American Heart Month Feb. 3 | Kick-off event, Overture Center Feb. 7 | Wear Red Day Feb. 8 | Madison Heart Ball, Madison Concourse Hotel Feb. 28 | Circle of Red launch party for new and prospective members. Hotel Red, Madison. heart. org/madisongoesred.com. Know Your Risks Get heart smart: Link to educational resources, and take the "My Life Check" assessment to learn your own heart score and healthy life action plan. mylifecheck.heart.org. PHOTOGRAPHED BY BOBBI PETERSEN GO RED FOR WOMEN PASSIONATE ABOUT HEART HEALTH BY LEIGH MILLS, NBC 15 NEWS ANCHOR WHAT DOES THE COLOR red mean to you? For local women involved in the Go Red for Women movement, it's their pas- sion for ensuring all women are aware of the signs and symptoms of heart disease. "As soon as I heard 1 in 3 women die of heart disease and only 46 percent of all women know that, I was shocked," recalls Jenny Stedman, Circle of Red chair for the American Heart Association (AHA). "At that point I became passionate about creating awareness and empower- INGWOMENTOPUTTHEIRHEˬLTHǠRSTo Toni Sikes, Go Red for Women Execu- TIVE-EˬDERSHIP5EˬMCHˬIRˬGREESTHˬT the numbers are startling. "I had no idea of the stats of how many women were affected by cardiovascular disease, the things I needed to be aware of for my own personal health and what I could do to change those things." Sikes was inspired to volunteer for the AHA in part to reach her female friends. "My women friends are some of the most important people in my life. As we all age together, my fervent hope is that each and every one of us stays healthy. And taking care of our hearts is a big part of that," Sikes says. For Sara Fischer, it was personal. "At 23, I already had high cholesterol and was at risk. I went to [the AHA's] website and TOOKTHEl.Y-IFE$HECKmTESTˬNDSCORED 5 out of 10. I knew I was slacking off on healthy habits, but other than gaining weight, I did not think this could poten- tially cost my life." Now, as Passion Committee chair, Fischer and the group have helped bring Wear Red Day to life locally, increase the number of companies involved in Go Red, promote February as American Heart Disease Awareness Month and simply support each other. "By becoming part of the movement, I felt I needed to become an example," says Fischer, who credits the group's posi- tive impact for the healthier habits that have reduced her overall cholesterol by 50 points. "I can make time to have that same impact on others," she says. And this year there's a new way you can get involved: Circle of Red asks women to make a direct donation, fundraise and advocate locally. "I'm excited to be in- volved because this is something new in Madison, and we can cater it to what's important [here]," explains Stedman. nŀ ISISDIRECTLYHELPINGWOMENˬNDIN directly helping families." 8HERE DOES YOUR PˬSSION LIE ŀ ESE three women are perfect examples of how a little extra time and a lot of heart can make a huge difference. Some of Go Red's Passion Committee: Back row: Abby Despins, Lisa Olmsted, Stephanie Navarre, Beth Pinkerton and Vicki Carter Front Row: Elene Daniel, Sara Fischer, Krystal Allman and Jody Stolldorf