February has long been recognized as American Heart Month. Many things have changed since the initial proclamation in 1963. Unfortunately, one thing that has not is that heart disease is still the leading cause of death of Americans.

Major inroads have been made during this time, with an emphasis on increased awareness, prevention and treatment. One significant area of improvement is awareness of heart disease among women. In just the past decade, the number of women aware that heart disease is their leading cause of death has nearly doubled, and 293 fewer women in the U.S. die from heart disease and stroke each day compared to when the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign was launched in 2004.

This year, we are excited to build on that success in the Coachella Valley and introduce the “Two Weeks of Red” campaign.

The campaign kicks off Friday evening, February 2, with the inaugural Kick-off Sock Hop at the Palm Springs Air Museum. We are very excited about the Sock Hop and expect a lot of energy to help kick off our 2018 Go Red campaign.

We will share some exciting Two Weeks of Red community collaborations at the Sock Hop, including a number of local businesses that will help raise awareness across the community by lighting up their buildings in red to show their support. A number of clubs, businesses, and restaurants will also be featuring fun fundraising, as well as heart-healthy activities and menu options throughout the campaign.

The campaign culminates February 16 at the Westin Mission Hills with the Coachella Valley Go Red For Women Luncheon. This year’s theme “Your Passport to Heart Health” will guide attendees on a tour to take care of themselves with a passport that will coach them toward good health throughout the year. The pre-lunch activities will include not-to-be-missed “Red Talks” led by healthcare specialists, heart-healthy cooking demos, interactive stations for health monitoring and other activities, shopping, and of course, the annual auction. The event is sure to be inspiring and educational. The 2018 Coachella Valley Go Red For Women campaign is chaired David Herrlinger of HP Energy. The Coachella Valley Go Red For Women Luncheon is locally sponsored by Eisenhower Medical Center.

For more information and to get involved in this year’s campaign, contact Danielle Grout at [email protected] or (760) 346.8109. www.CVGoRedLuncheon.heart.org.