Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Miss International, Inc. Goes RED for Women!

As Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, I was the voice of the Heart Truth campaign of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Why? Bc heart disease is a silent killer taking the lives of women annually. The disease also disproportionately affects women of color.

Now as your Miss Louisiana International 2013, I join the Miss International Organization as the voice of the American Heart Association (AHA)! I'm excited to continue my work as a voice for heart disease awareness and prevention.

In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) faced a challenge. Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an “older man’s disease.” To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red For Women – a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.

Go Red For Women encourages awareness of the issue of women and heart disease, and also action to save more lives. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power women have to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them the tools they need to lead a heart healthy life.

In 2010, the American Heart Association set a strategic goal of reducing death and disability from cardiovascular disease and strokes by 20% while improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% by the year 2020.

In 2003, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the American Heart Association and other organizations committed to women’s health joined together to raise awareness of women and heart disease. The NHLBI introduced the red dress as a national symbol for women and heart disease awareness and the American Heart Association adopted this symbol to create synergy among all organizations committed to fighting this cause.

While Go Red For Women is a national organization, it's also a powerful grassroots organization, uniting women in diverse neighborhoods from coast to coast.By working together to advance this important cause, the American Heart Association, NHLBI, and other women’s health groups will have a greater impact than any one group could have alone.

After speaking with my friend and contact, Kerin Spears, Director of Development of the Baton Rouge American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, they are more than happy to include me on their speaker's panel as an expert community speaker on this subject. So look out for community service events and activities centered around heart disease awareness throughout my reign!

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