Ladies' group educates about women and heart disease

Intermountain Catholic

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The Saint John the Baptist Ladies Association announced a casting call for its Dancing with the Saint John the Baptist Stars charity luncheon in November. Shown handing out applications are Melissa Veltri (left), Susan Forbush, Karin Hurley, chairwoman, and Kristie Walters. IC photo/Christine Young

DRAPER — Saint John the Baptist Ladies Association kicked off its "Go Red for Women" event by announcing a casting call for ballroom dancers at the parish’s weekend Masses Aug. 18-19.

The Ladies Association, in partnership with the American Heart Association and DF Dance Studio, will host Dancing with the Saint John the Baptist Stars and parishioners will have the opportunity to be the stars.

"Six couples from our parish will participate in a professional/amateur ballroom dance competition at this year’s charity luncheon in November," said Karin Hurley, Ladies Association luncheon chairwoman. "Three men and three women will be paired with a professional partner and receive complimentary dance training. No previous dance experience is necessary; they just have to want to build a healthy lifestyle and have caught the dance bug. The cast will be announced Sept. 21 and 22 during the weekend Masses."

The casting call requires applicants to fill out an application by writing a 100-word essay about why they wish to celebrate the energy, passion and power to wipe out heart disease and stroke. Contestants will be chosen by an impartial selection committee based on the strength of the essay. In addition, fundraising pages will be set up for each contestant online through the American Heart Association. The contestant entering the competition with the largest dollar value in fundraising will receive 25 additional votes. Contestant voting will take place at the charity luncheon.

Cherie Stater, Go Red for Women director, was available following the Aug. 19 Mass with the American Heart Association Pledge and Promise booth for parishioners to learn more about heart disease and also to get involved by promoting awareness and making a commitment to take action. Among the pledges, parishioners promised to take the stairs more often, eat fewer carbohydrates and less fat and exercise more often as well, as to tell their friends and family members about their efforts. Parishioners also had their photos taken holding their pledge cards, which will be displayed at the parish.

"The Go Red for Women movement is focused on educating women and the community on women’s heart disease," said Stater. "Heart disease is the number one killer in women and men, but we focus specifically on women because women’s symptoms are different from men’s. A woman might experience heartburn, tightness in her jaw or a headache which can be linked to heart disease; while a man typically feels tightness in his chest or pain in his arm. Many women have gone to doctors and been misdiagnosed based on their symptoms. Part of the Go Red for Women movement is to educate doctors and the community so women stay on top of their cholesterol numbers, blood pressure and blood glucose levels and are checked regularly by their physician to make sure they are in good health."

Go Red for Women is in its 10th year and one of its goals is to save more lives, Stater said. For information, visit www.goredforwomen.org.

"Heart disease poses a serious threat to women," said Stater. "Only 13 percent of women view heart disease as a health threat. Cardiovascular disease kills 480,000 women a year, about one per minute. So we encourage women to eat more whole grains and smaller portions, don’t smoke, maintain their weight, de-stress and evaluate their risks such as age, gender, ethnicity and family history. Finally, we advise everyone to listen to their heart for warning signs and visit a doctor early."