“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Wanda Cook, Vice President of WomenHeart and so much more…
One of our heart sisters, a 2003 Mayo grad, beloved board member, support coordinator, advocate, and national spokeswoman, Wanda Cook passed away on September 26, 2007 at the age of 64 of “natural causes”. For years Wanda has suffered with diabetes, lupus and heart disease. Never once with her physical struggles, did Wanda stop doing her important work for WomenHeart and reaching people nationally about the issues of women and heart disease, especially women of color.
The article that highlighted Wanda’s incredible work can be accessed on the following web site:
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414667.
Wanda’s contribution to the entire nation is on such a personal level that, as WomenHeart board president I couldn’t even begin to use the proper words to express my gratitude. She not only painstakingly sewed, but also then donated, a Native American red dress to the Heart Truth Campaign of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The dress is now part of the national collection of designer red dresses for that national campaign. In February of 2005, Wanda participated in the Second International Conference on Heart Disease and Stroke in Women that was cosponsored by the American Heart Association, the World Heart Federation and the Centers for Disease Control. Wanda made a beautiful red shawl and donated it to the exhibit at that conference. (Some photos are attached from that event.) She created dolls and others arts and crafts that she would sell to benefit WomenHeart and to get the word out about heart disease to other Native Americans across the country.
Wanda had an impressive goal to create an annual Native American Health Fair and Luncheon at Pechanga Resort and Casino. And that’s what she did! It was a highly successful event two years in a row that benefited WomenHeart. But more importantly, the health fair and conference reached out to the women and families that she wanted to support and educate. Wanda was planning the third event for February of 2008.
WomenHeart’s mission became Wanda’s passion, and her commitment was palpable. She traveled near and far to get people to pay attention to issues of the heart, regardless of her own health issues. Wanda was a spiritual woman whose beliefs and love for others were echoed in her work.
To honor this incredible woman, WomenHeart is setting up a Wanda Cook Memorial Fund that will honor her memory and years of doing the important work in repairing and healing the hearts of others. We will, of course, provide Wanda’s family with the names of all donors, and any written or electronic messages will also be forwarded to her family. Donations may be sent in Wanda’s memory to:
Wanda Cook Memorial Fund
c/o WomenHeart
818 18th Street NW Suite 930
Washington, DC 20006
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