RYE A group of 30 men, including local business owners, radio hosts and public officials, showed their support for the American Heart Associations Red Tie Society this week by attending a dinner at the Westchester County Club.
The event Thursday night was part of an effort to increase awareness of Westchester and Fairfields Go Red for Womens effort to increase awareness of and promote targeted research for cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart attack and stroke prevention.
For every three women who die, one will be the victim of cardiovascular disease, said Carolyn Torella, the Regional Communications Director for the American Heart Association.
The key signs of an attack can often differ from those that men will suffer, and are frequently ignored or passed off of as stress and anxiety.
To become a member, each of the men donated at least $1,000. The money, according to Potoula Gjidija, Regional Director of Go Red for Women, will go toward specific CVD research projects and public education initiatives, which in the past have included school assemblies and the promotion of the Heart Associations Family & Friends CPR Anytime kits.
Anne Ring, who worked to bring the society into the two counties, saluted the attendees and their willingness to serve as advocates.
Were the supermoms. Were the ones slowly killing ourselves while we take care of everyone else And thats where you wonderful men come in , said Ring, who is an associate publisher with Main Street Connect.
Actress Elizabeth Banks, who plays Avery Jessup on NBCs 30 Rock, directed and starred in a video to address the need for greater heart health awareness, particularly among women.
Whenever I see that movie, first I laugh because its such an over the top representation of the typical supermom, Ring said. But then I always end up feeling angry, its then that I realize, the person Im mad at, the person Im yelling at, is me.
As the former Chair of the AHAs Westchester County Board of Directors and attendee Edward Stopplemann will attest, prevention, care, and treatment are the core of the Go Red and the Red Tie Societys initiatives.
My kid still has the CPR kit and shes proud to have a father whos here tonight, he said.
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