Tufts Health Plan Makes Five-Year, $50,000 Commitment to Support the American Heart Association
For the third year in a row, Tufts Health Plan will present a $10,000 cash grant to the American Heart Association.
The Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women annually inspires thousands of women to embark on fitness plans that include healthy diets, cardiovascular training, and daily exercise. The American Heart Association routinely promotes these same activities as a way for women to reduce their risks of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. To further its commitment to health and join the fight against heart disease and stroke, Tufts Health Plan has made a multi-year, $50,000 commitment to support the American Heart Association.
On race day, Tufts Health Plan will present the 2008 $10,000 cash grant to the American Heart Association at the Boston Common. Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2006-07, the association invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. Go Red For Women was launched by the American Heart Association in 2004 as a nationwide movement to celebrate the energy, passion, and power women have to band together and wipe out heart disease. Thanks to the participation of millions of women across the country, the color red and the red dress now stand for the ability all women have to improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives. Find out what you can do at home, on the job, in your community and nationally to spread the word: Take Action.
Make a donation today. Learn ways you can give to The American Heart Association. Your contributions help provide the education and resources to significantly reduce the number of deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Please consider giving to an organization of your choice. If you represent a charity that you would like to offer for consideration on this page, you may contact us.
Lily Burns (left)
Lily had a stroke at the age of 33. She had just taught a step aerobics class when she began to feel sick to her stomach, and then she suddenly lost the ability to walk, talk and write. Because her boyfriend had just seen a television program on stroke, he recognized the warning signs and rushed her to the hospital.
After it was determined that Lily suffered an ischemic stroke because of a 1.5 cm blood clot in her brain, doctors also diagnosed her with an atrial septal defect, or a hole in her heart. She then had successful open-heart-surgery to close the hole.
Lily was back at the gym about three 1/2 weeks after her open-heart surgery! Her experience forced her to think a lot about patient advocacy and the importance of patient's rights. She said, "I am working with the American Heart and Stroke Association so that those voices - however small they might be - are heard, and that people do not feel as if they don't matter."
Ashley Girard (center)
In 2006, while a junior at Northeastern University, doctors found a severe congenital heart defect where all the veins in Ashley Girard's heart were reversed. Ashley was a former three-sport athlete, so aside from shortness of breath and blue fingertips, she felt healthy. At 21, Ashley had to prepare for open heart surgery, write her will and discuss life support. During the six-hour procedure, doctors separated and reattached the veins. It was a complete success.
Her goal from that point on was to train and finish a marathon. After eight weeks of bed rest and a restriction on lifting five pounds, she began walking every day with her family. With only two months to train, Ashley ran a half marathon in October 2006, just six months after heart surgery! A year and a half later she ran the Tufts 10K for Women.
Today, Ashley is preparing to complete the Boston Marathon on Tedy's Team in honor of herself, her great grandmother and her grandmother who recently passed away from strokes.
Debra Geihsler, Chair of the Greater Boston Division of the American Heart Association (right)
