The “Open My Heart Foundation” officially launched its’ organization on February 6, 2015, “National Wear Red Day” at the Gateway Village in Capitol Heights, MD. National Wear Red Day is a massive public awareness day held each first Friday of February, to warn women, show support and raise awareness of heart disease being the #1 killer of women. Many of the Gateway Village Residence attended, as well as the Mayor of Capitol Heights, Marnitta King, who presented CEO and Founder, Florence Champagne, with a “Town of Capitol Heights Proclamation”, Proclaiming February as the Open My Heart Foundation Month.
Attendees received valuable information about heart health from Dr. Vikram Raya, of Capitol Cardiology Associates. They were also able to take part in Yoga demonstrations by Alice Williams, as well as entertainment performances by Jazz Musician Saxophonist, Wake Campbell, Liturgical Dancer Portia Williams, and a skit by their own, Florence Champagne, entitled “See me.”
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
There are 42 million women in the United States Living with Heart Disease1 in every 4 are women.
(Center for Disease Control, 2014)
• Cardiovascular diseases kill nearly 50,000 African-American women annually.
• Of African-American women ages 20 and older, 49 percent have heart diseases.
• Only 1 in 5 African-American women believes she is personally at risk.
• Only 52 percent of African-American women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
• Only 36 percent of African-American women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk.
(Go Red for Women, 2014)