The Circle

Circle of Red Jean McSweeney, PhD UAMS

Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association’s popular event, the 2021 Central Arkansas Go Red for Women (AHA) signature initiative; a platform focused on women and luncheon. Though it is usually a social event, this year it will designed to increase awareness of women’s heart health while take place virtually at noon on Thursday, June 24. During the encouraging change to improve women’s lives. Taking on this luncheon, survivors of heart disease will be recognized. These challenge requires a village, which is why Central Arkansas’ survivors are generally approached by their physician about Circle of Red is vital to the mission. recognition at the event and typically not otherwise involved

The Circle of Red is a diverse group of individuals who have with AHA, although sometimes they are. joined the Go Red for Women movement and work together to Survivors of heart disease come from all backgrounds and drive and influence change to improve the lives and heart health ages. One particular honoree at this year’s luncheon is as young as of women in their communities. 4 years old.

Becki Swindell is the “[The luncheon] brings to corporate market director and light different types of heart has been with AHA since diseases,” Swindell says. “It 2020. She helps to recruit brings to light the different members and sees a variety of conditions that these survivors individuals who are drawn to face and helps educate not only the organization. our Circle of Red members,

“We have numerous but the general public about physicians, we have stay-at- different heart disease and risk home moms, we have CEOs factors that go along with those.” of corporations — so it’s a wide The event will also feature range of people that are drawn two female speakers, one of to the organization. We like which is a heart disease survivor to bring in a lot of different herself: Catherine Biggers, ideas and a lot of different who suffered a heart attack at people with the common core age 49 during the coronavirus of having an interest in heart pandemic. health,” Swindell says. “We The stories and information come together socially and share that will be shared across the ideas and the latest information virtual stage have a tendency to regarding women and heart help the women attending with disease and just join forces their, what member Gina Pharis with regard to Go Red to help calls, “lightbulb moment.” empower women to take charge Pharis, a Circle of Red of their health.” The organization doesn’t just Circle of Red LaShannon Spencer member, has been involved with AHA for 10 years. With start conversations, though. It also puts action behind them by Community Health Centers of Arkansas Chair, Go Red for Women a strong family history of heart disease, including a mother advocating for and funding new who died from it, Pharis has a research. personal connection to the mission.

“We also recognize the fact that women are highly “I started with my mother in mind and my husband in mind,” underrepresented in cardiovascular research, which is ironic since Pharis says. “Since I joined, my two brothers have had open-heart heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women,” she says. “So that is surgery. My dedication is still there, and it’s been there since I another factor of Go Red, that we try to close the gender gap in started on Day One.” research.” One of her neighbors will be recognized at this year’s

Swindell is also the brains behind the organization’s most luncheon.

of Arkansas CEO and Chair for Go Red for Women LaShannon Spencer is heading the organization’s Raise awareness. Raise money. Support the cause. initiative to expand the awareness to Arkansas’ rural communities. “I’m looking at it from a rural health care

“It’s about actually witnessing women get it,” Pharis says. perspective — rural health and health inequities,” Spencer says.

“Watching the lightbulb go off in their head when you go to an “And it’s important to me to be a part of giving back because the event and you introduce somebody new to what AHA does, it’s American Heart Association actually grants funding to not-forwonderful. The more people know, the more education people profit organizations to help transform and increase awareness have. Maybe they’ll go get a baseline heart check, maybe they’ll about heart disease. I have a 2024 strategic goal that really fosters go check something, maybe they’ll go get their cholesterol rural health partnership by really working with rural residents to checked and change their way of dieting or eating by cutting out make them very much aware of the triggers when it comes to heart what they think is contributing to their cholesterol. I have seen disease.” and witnessed people do that, and that is a big deal.” Having been involved with AHA for the last three years, Spencer’s

Although she has now rotated off the board, she’s more role began when AHA leadership approached her to join the cause, passionate than ever about the mission. knowing she can represent community health centers and be a

“It’s a great organization and is making a significant resource to connect to rural communities. She’s also a Southwest impact for women, especially, and that’s why I’m a Circle of Region Board Member for AHA, giving her new insight into what

Red member,” she says. “The AHA has put in over $4 billion is possible at that level. in research, and part of our mission at Circle of Red is to raise “I see policies, I see how they have pushed policies pertaining to awareness, raise money, support the cause as much as we can so adolescent health, whether it was vaping and e-cigarettes legislation, we can do more research to educate women about heart disease. whether it was in schools like the hydration stations where students

Just letting people know that it is so easy to pay attention to your can actually refill their bottles of water, grassroots campaigns,” body and listen to it, and if you have something, you need to go Spencer says. get checked out.” Spencer often thinks about Go Red for Women luncheon speaker

With the help of Community Health Centers of Arkansas, Biggers’ story about the heart attack she suffered during the pandemic the message about heart health and encouragement to get and how this period of time has intensified many already-present risk checked out is reaching even more areas of the state. factors for heart disease. She also cautions women against stress in

In October, AHA joined Community Health Centers general. of Arkansas for a Community Conversations webinar series “People don’t really think about the stress that has compounded focused on senior health, sponsored by CHI St. Vincent and because of COVID. How do you relieve stress? Your exercise, your

Saline Health System. diet. … I think about inflammatory disease

Webinar topics included: and how inflammatory disease can often lead telehealth services, cardiovascular to heart attack,” Spencer says. “Stress is a silent disease and vulnerable populations, killer, and I think about the workload, the roles

COVID-19 and senior wellness that so many women have in their life.” checks. Since joining and working with AHA,

Community Health Centers

Circle of Red Debi Barnes DD&F Consulting Circle of Red Sharon Heflin Philanthropist

Circle of Red Anthony Fletcher, MD FAHA CHI St. Vincent

Spencer has seen her drive for public health and community health really begin to morph into a personal passion and commitment to educate about heart disease.

“Most people, when they think about the Heart Association, they think about the special events,” Spencer says, “but they really don’t understand the value proposition of the return on investment they are making when they give that donation — so much research, clinical trials, published papers, partnerships with other not-forprofits, working with school districts to encourage children, teens to promote exercise — it’s definitely given me a different outlook and a connection to that mission.”

She says that at the end of the day, raising awareness about heart health is as simple as just caring for the women in your life.

“The idea is really to empower each woman to understand the signs and the importance of self-care — that is the most simplistic way that I can look at it. Self-care is critical. Selfcare for self, also self-care for the women you love. Being your friend’s keeper; being your sister’s keeper,” Spencer says.

For information on Go Red for Women, Circle of Red or to get involved, contact Becki.Swindell@ heart.org.

Circle of Red Mike Poore Little Rock School District

Circle of Red LaShawn and Morris Kelley, MD

Circle of Red Mike Poore Little Rock School District • Justin Allen • Elizabeth Andreoli • Heather Baker • Debi Barnes • Tjuana Byrd • Mangaraju Chakka, MD • Tom Conley, MD • Brian Eble, MD • Anthony Fletcher, MD, FAHA • Sharon Heflin • Tanya James • Cara Jones, DDS • LaShawn Kelley • Morris E. Kelley, MD • Lyndell Lay • Steve Leek • Jean McSweeney, PhD • Gary Nash, MD • Jim Pappas, MD • Gina Pharis • Mike Poore • Molly Smith • Martha Snider • LaShannon Spencer • Cassandra Steele • Carol Stephens • John Steuri • Grace Steuri • Cindy VanVeckhoven • Amy Wiedower Eble, MD

Gina Pharis Little Rock Marathon

GO RED FOR

Photos by Arshia Khan, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

very year, more than 200,000 women die from cardiovascular disease. And every year, the American Heart Association (AHA) continues its signature initiative, Go Red for Women, designed to increase awareness, institute change and, most importantly, save lives. “It’s no longer just about wearing red; it’s no longer just about sharing heart health facts,” AHA says in a statement on its website. “It’s about all women making a commitment to stand together with Go Red and taking charge of their own heart health as well as the health of those they can’t bear to live without. Making a commitment to your health isn’t something you have to do alone either, so grab a friend or a family member and make a Go Red Healthy Behavior Commitment today.”

This month, the AHA is hosting its annual Central Arkansas Go Red for Women Luncheon, presented by Saline Health System, virtually on June 24 at noon, and its online auction adjacent to the luncheon from June 21 to June 24. Tickets to the luncheon will include a delivered box lunch for digital attendees to eat while watching the ceremony, and proceeds from both the luncheon and the auction will go toward continuing the mission of reducing heart disease, as about 80 percent of lifethreatening cardiac episodes are preventable. Among the itinerary for the Go Red for Women Luncheon will be the opportunity for attendees to “meet” local survivors of cardiac events. Their stories may sound similar to yours or someone you know. That’s not by design, it’s reality. Each has bravely retold the most vulnerable and terrifying moments of her life in order to make a difference for others.

These are their stories. This is how they “go red.” How will you?