Donate

Our Hearts. Our Choice. Central Valley

February 26, 2010

  • your event
  • meet our leaders
  • meet our sponsors
  • open your heart
  • circle of red

Your Event

Take your seat at the table. Join other outstanding and dedicated women and men at the Central Valley Go Red for Women luncheon. Hear the survivor stories, remember the expert advice, and Make it Your Mission to share in the commitment to fight the No.1 killer of women.

Join Us & Get Directions

February 26, 2010
10:00am - 1:30pm
Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center
848 "M" Street
Fresno, CA 93721

 

Reserve your Place Get Directions

Keynote Speaker  

Eliz Greene
  Eliz Greene was seven-months pregnant with twins when she suffered a massive heart attack. Her life changed -- not only did she survive a ten-minute cardiac arrest, the cesarean delivery of her daughters and open-heart surgery, all on the same day -- she gained new perspective and passion for life.
  Determined not to lose her new-found passion and to regain her health, Eliz developed strategies to fit activity and healthy habits into her life. She lost the more than eighty pounds she gained while pregnant and has since become a recreational triathlete. Her heart attack forced her to slow down and pay attention to what was important. To engage life rather than just endure it!
  Drawing on her training as an adaptive movement specialist, Eliz developed down-to-earth strategies for building activity into everyday life, eating better and managing stress. Eliz is an author and nationally known speaker whose mission is to encourage women to recognize heart disease as their most serious health threat and provide down-to-earth strategies for active and healthy lives.
  Today, Eliz is a healthy 44-year-old living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her wonderful husband, Clay, and her beautiful (now 8-year-old) daughters.
 
Our Survivor    

Marisa Walker
  Marissa Walker is an active eight-year-old girl and although she tires easily, she loves to run, swim, play and do all the things children her age do. It is hard to believe that this young girl has undergone three open-heart surgeries and is at risk for congestive heart failure because she was born with half a heart – a condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. 
  When her parents brought her home from the hospital, they could tell right away that something was different about her. She seemed to be having trouble breathing and her extremities appeared bluish. Her mother Lorraine saved Marissa’s life by acting quickly and taking her to the doctor. 
  She was examined and immediately sent to a cardiologist where she was diagnosed and treated. Although there is no long term cure for Marissa’s condition, her clinical team reconstructed the right side of her heart through a series of three surgeries.
  The first of these was when she was just eight days old and was the most difficult for her. Marissa failed coming off life support twice and was in the hospital for a total of seven weeks. The next two surgeries were done when she was four months and four years old respectively. Over the course of the three procedures, her heart was reconstructed to function and support her body as both sides normally would. She has recovered well.
  These days, Marissa is encouraged to do everything that her body allows her to do. On the outside she looks like other third graders - but she is still living with half a heart. To allow early detection of any problems, Marissa has a check-up every sixth months. She has a 90 percent chance to live to ten without further intervention.
   The Walker family knows the value of the research funded by the American Heart Association and is grateful for the advances already made in the cardiovascular field. They hope for a new medical breakthrough to fix Marissa’s heart for good. They have been involved with the American Heart Association since 2008, participating in the Start! Central Valley Heart Walk and serving as spokespersons for the organization.

Breakout Sessions

Get inspired. Get informed. Join health and fitness experts, medical professionals, and women like you to hear the concrete steps you can take today for better heart health.

Living Heart-and-Wallet Smart
Breakout Sessions (.pdf)


 

 Heart disease remains the number one killer of women and men.  I think women need to understand that they can prevent heart disease by making healthy choices.  Stress, inflammation, sedentary lifestyle and poor diet are all changeable factors that women have control over.  Sometimes we need guidance in prioritizing those symptoms and understanding their influence in our health.  I am dedicated to helping women understand their bodies. 

   I appreciate the opportunity to work with the American Heart Association. 

Sincerely,

Diana L. Smith, PharmD
Medical Dental Pharmacy

 

 

  I "Go Red" and speak out about heart disease because it has become a personal issue with me.  My father passed away from heart disease when he was 69 years old.  Prior to him my grandmother, his mother, passed away at the age of 64 from heart disease.  In the last few years my sister has been dealing with an issue with her heart as well.  
   Up until 4 or 5 years ago I did not realize that heart disease was the #1 cause of death among  women.  With the rise in  Cancer diagnosis I always believed that it was the #1 cause of death among men and women.  Since I have been associated  with the American Heart Association I have learned and shared so many things about heart disease with my family, friends, and co-workers.  I have been fortunate enough to work for Macy's, the National  Sponsor of the "Go Red for Women" movement.  This has afforded me the ability to speak out for women and heart disease raising awareness throughout the community so that we can provide the necessary funding for  research needed. 

Thank you, 
Rick D. Earnest, VP/Store Manager
Macy*s Northwest
 

 

 

 I think my reason for donating my time and following the cause is
because heart disease is near and dear to me as I have lost family
members due to heart disease. I am excited about GoRed because
it is a great cause to help heighten the awareness of heart disease
and the proceeds are dedicated to fighting heart disease in women
through new research and education.

 

Thanks,
Susan J. Woesner, Senior Vice President, Manager
Citizens Business Bank | Fresno Business Financial Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  • home
  • about go red for women
  • media & news
  • contact your local office

nationally sponsored by

Macys sponsors Go RedMerck sponsors Go Red
 

locally sponsored by

locally sponsored by 
     
  

 Hanford Community
    Medical Center


media sponsors
 
               


 

Get your Red Dress Pin >

Share