More than 450 people dressed in bright red to attend the annual Austin Go Red for Women Luncheon & Summit, honoring survivors, celebrating advancements in heart health and charting a new course toward a world free of cardiovascular disease, which claims the lives of one in three women.
Hosted by Kristen Currie and Jennifer Sanders, attendees listened to a fireside chat with Emmy Award-winning actress and heart health advocate, Susan Lucci. Lucci vulnerably shared her experiences with heart health and difficulty acknowledging that she needed medical help. The fit, healthy, and nutrition-conscious Lucci ignored her symptoms for several weeks until crushing chest pain sent her to the hospital, where doctors discovered severe arterial blockages. At the luncheon, Lucci encouraged all women to take charge of their own health, pay attention to their symptoms at the first sign, and put their wellness at the top of their to-do list.
“I was incredibly lucky, and I want to pass that luck on,” said Lucci. She hopes that women can learn to, “give themselves permission to take care of themselves.”
The Luncheon also featured Austin nurse Alex Garza’s survivor story. Garza, who unexpectedly experienced a stroke at age 24, now advocates for greater stroke and cardiovascular disease awareness for women across all ages. American Heart Association-Austin Board President Virginia Visser highlighted the AHA’s work with community education, support, and advocacy to expand access to care and reduce gender-based health disparities.
This year, Austin Go Red for Women Luncheon guests raised over $480,000 to save and improve women’s lives by advancing equitable research and care, advocating for inclusive health policies and raising awareness of women’s number one health threat, cardiovascular disease.
Since 2004, the Go Red for Women movement has addressed the awareness and clinical care gaps of cardiovascular disease for women. As women change and grow, so does their risk for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in women, claiming more lives than all cancers combined. Nearly 45% of women over age 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. Yet, Gen Z and Millennial women are less likely to be aware of their greatest health threat, including knowing the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes. Learn more at heart.org.
