Leslie Martone was guest of honor at the annual Northwest Harris County Go Red for Women luncheon.[/caption]Hundreds of red-clad women and men gathered at CityCentre today to celebrate the fight against heart disease and stroke at the annual Northwest Harris County Go Red for Women luncheon. Organization officials said their goal was to raise $200,000 for cardiovascular disease and stroke research.
“Cardiovascular disease is the cause of death for nearly one in three women every single year,” said Ilona Carson, Eyewitness News Anchor for ABC 13 and emcee for the event. “One woman every 80 seconds in this country dies from this.”
However, 80 percent of those deaths can be prevented, she said. According to the American Heart Association, the first steps to maintaining heart health include:
- Controlling cholesterol levels
- Reducing blood sugar
- Getting active
- Eating better
- Losing weight
- Quitting smoking
- Managing blood pressure
Leslie Martone, president of the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce, was this year’s guest of honor.
She said the sudden loss of her mother two years ago is the reason why she advocates for cardiovascular health. In 2012, Martone’s mother suffered a heart attack, which she survived.
“But unfortunately, her fight wasn’t over,” Martone said. “Shortly after her heart attack, she suffered a stroke and she didn’t make it. Therefore, I fight for women’s heart health education.”
Stroke kills nearly 130,000 people annually, but through the nationwide efforts of Go Red for Women, about 293 fewer women die from heart disease and stroke in the U.S. every day, event officials said.
For more information, visit www.goredforwomen.org.
