On Friday, May 5, the American Heart Association of Philadelphia hosted its annual Go Red For Women event

Now in its 19th year, the annual event serves as a movement to end heart disease and stroke in women through increased women’s heart health awareness and social change.

According to the AHA, heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, causing 1 in 3 deaths yearly. Women of color are even more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease. 

With the glaring statistics, the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women event serves to fundraise in efforts to accelerate cardiovascular research, advance public health policy, and engage more women in STEM. 

“We seek to empower all women to take an active role in their health and well-being,” said Barbara Wadsworth, executive vice president and COO of Main Line Health and co-chair for the 2023 Go Red For Women event. 

Go Red For Women hopes to eradicate the issues that cause cardiovascular events and give all women an equitable opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

A key element that was stressed throughout the event was the importance of learning CPR, which can be learned in only a few minutes.

Wadsworth noted how valuable CPR was in regards to Buffalo Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin a few months ago.

“We watched in horror on national television as Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the football field and because of the quick action of the emergency personnel administering CPR, his life was saved and he recently announced he has been cleared to return to the football field in the fall,” she said. 

During her remarks, co-chair for the 2023 Go Red for Women Shelly Buck, highlighted that the women who took part in the event helped raise more than $1 million to help fight heart disease and stroke in Philadelphia. 

“I can’t help but be inspired and somewhat emotional,” said Buck. “Together, we can eliminate heart disease and stroke in women.” 

At the event, the American Heart Association presented the 2023 Woman of Impact Award to Jessica DeLuise, physician assistant and certified culinary medicine specialist.

She was selected from a list of four total nominees. 

In addition, 10 other women were nominated as “Faces of Heart.” The women were from all different backgrounds and phases of their lives, each sharing the common interest of addressing heart health for women.

The woman 2023 Faces of Heart Honoree was Theresa Alexander, who needed a heart transplant and was able to endure it with help from the American Heart Association. 

The Go Red For Women event set out a goal to fundraise at least $150,000 and managed to reach the goal by the end of the event. 

The event ended with a brief conversation featuring Kaitlyn Ibrahim, M.D., a cardiologist at Lankenau Heart Group and Main Line Health.

The American Heart Association was founded in 1924, and next year, will be celebrating 100 years of striving to save and improve the lives of individuals fighting heart disease and stroke.

Both ailments are among the top five leading causes of death for women in the United States.