The women serve as ambassadors for the American Heart Association.
The American Heart Association has announced the 2014 Go Red Leading Ladies of Western Massachusetts. The women, who will serve as ambassadors to educate about heart disease and women, were chosen based on their commitment, support and experience with the disease, that is the leading cause of death in women.
The women, who are also featured in a promotional poster, are: Teresa Hudson, Springfield; Bridget Glasheen and Joanna Guindon, both of West Springfield; Gerda Maissel, Longmeadow; Angela Smith and Lynn Vedovelli, both of East Longmeadow; Dee Emery-Ferrero, Agawam; Abby Mahoney, Holyoke; Janet Garcia, Westfield; Sandy Fickert, Easthampton; Maura McCaffrey, West Brookfield; and Allison Wolfe, Pittsfield.
The poster was photographed by Denise Smith, owner of Denise Smith Photography who donated her time to shoot and design the poster that will travel to venues throughout Western Massachusetts, during this year. It was unveiled during a ceremony, kicking off American Heart Month in February, on Jan. 31, at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The women, chosen from a dozens of nominations, range from moms to entrepreneurs, health care specialists, heart survivors, retirees, and business leaders, according to a release.
“Some women are heart or stroke survivors; others have made changes in their lives to become more heart healthy, inspire other women or just simply understand her risk for heart disease and are taking steps to become more heart healthy," said Mary Ann Burns, the association's area director of communications, in the release.
Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases kill more women each year than the next five causes of death combined, including breast cancer. Go Red For Women is designed to help women reduce their risk for the disease by learning the steps to prevent it.
Go to www.goredforwomen.org for more information, including tips for healthy living, to sign up for Go Red, and healthy recipes.
This is the seventh year of the poster campaign. The association's National Wear Red Day is Feb. 7. For more information on that visit http://www.goredforwomen.org/wearredday/
