Newest graduates from national WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic become leaders in the fight against heart disease

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 27, 2009

Contact:

Lisa Clough, Director of Communications

WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

Direct: 202.464.8734

(Washington, DC) – WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease this week named 65 new WomenHeart Champions to join their "boots on the ground" movement in support of the 41 million American women living with or at risk for heart disease – the leading cause of death in women.

The new WomenHeart Champions – women heart disease survivors from 30 states, all walks of life, and ages 23-76 – recently graduated from the prestigious annual WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, MN. The women were selected from a nationally competitive application process to attend the four-day intensive symposium; and, they return home as leaders to educate, advocate, and support their communities on the issue of women and heart disease. WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is the nation's only patient centered organization advocating for women's heart health.

"The Class of 2009 is extremely impressive," said Lisa M. Tate, Chief Executive Officer of WomenHeart, headquartered in Washington, DC.  "These 65 women are living with the most devastating of diseases and yet have made a conscious decision and selfless commitment to help other women – young and old – live heart healthy lives and support those currently living with heart disease."

By becoming a national volunteer WomenHeart Champion, these women are now part of the 465 inspirational women from across the country to earn the WomenHeart Champion title. These women, now community leaders and WomenHeart national spokespersons in the fight against heart disease, are available to speak to community, state, and national audiences about the prevalence of heart disease in women and how it is so often under diagnosed and mistreated. WomenHeart advocates for prevention, early and accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment of heart disease in women. Most significantly, WomenHeart Champions run the only national community based network of support groups for women living with heart disease.

"Heart disease can be a very emotionally and physically isolating condition for women," said Tate. "Our network of support groups enables women to have the camaraderie and support they need to make the lifestyle changes necessary to live a heart healthier life."

WomenHeart was founded in 1999 and the annual Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic was founded as an integral part of WomenHeart in 2002.

Media: For more information on WomenHeart efforts in your area, and to plan for February 2010 American Heart Month stories, please contact Lisa Clough, Director of Communications, at 202.464.8734 or lclough@womenheart.org.

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WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is the nation's only patient advocacy organization serving the 41 million American women living with or at risk for heart disease – the leading cause of death for women. WomenHeart is solely devoted to advancing women's heart health through advocacy, community education, and the nation's only patient support network for women living with heart disease. WomenHeart is both a coalition and a community of thousands of members nationwide, including women heart patients and their families, healthcare professionals, and health advocates, all committed to helping women live longer, healthier lives. To join or donate, visit www.womenheart.org.