(Utica, NY – May 2014) More than 450 local women and men, many of them professionals with area businesses, packed a room at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro on Wednesday, May 7 to help raise more than $98,180 in the fight against heart disease in women.
Among the faces in the crowd at the annual Go Red For Women Luncheon were five companies that entered teams of employees in the American Heart Association’s 2014 Go Red Corporate Challenge. The teams from First Source Federal Credit Union; AmeriCU Credit Union, Revere Copper Products, Inc.; The Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC; and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare spent eight weeks engaging in a workplace wellness challenge. The challenge themes was “Put Some Step in your Spring” and focused on walking. Each team tracked their members’ steps to add up to a virtual walking path to Rio de Janiero. All five teams made it to their destination.
These companies are role models in the Mohawk Valley for helping employees instill healthier lifestyles. While all of the teams saw improvements in their overall wellness, there were specific awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the battle against heart disease:
Company of the Year Par Technology
Heart Survivor Award Sean McMahon, Revere Copper Products, Inc.
Most Knowledgeable Team AmeriCU Credit Union
Team Spirit Award The Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC
Most Improved Company Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare
Individual Spirit Awards:
AmeriCU Credit Union: Stephanie Graziadei
Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare: Patricia Meyers
The Arc Oneida Lewis Chapter, NYSARC: Breanna Miller
Revere Copper Products, Inc.: Karen Arborgast
Par Technology: Valerie Slater
The companies that competed in the Go Red Corporate Challenge hope their participation will encourage other businesses in the Mohawk Valley Region to follow suit and evaluate changes that can be made in the workplace to promote employee wellness. The rewards are obvious—enhanced quality of life for employees, reduced absenteeism, and increased productivity.
The American Heart Association also announced the winner of the Go Red Power Of You Award. The award was presented to Mary Wing-Marshall for her efforts to eat better and exercise more after discovering he has heart disease risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and elevated blood glucose.
The passion speaker at the luncheon was heart disease survivor Leisha Doherty. She shared her personal story with the crowd as well. Leisha is a working mom who has suffered several heart attacks and survived two open heart surgeries. When she first had symptoms, she thought she had the flu. Now she is spreading the message that symptoms of a heart attack are different for women than men. Women may not see the chest pain people expect. Instead, women may feel pressure in the chest, nausea, shortness of breath, and neck, back, or jaw pain.
Before the luncheon got underway, attendees had the opportunity to attend a heart health fair to learn about stress management, cooking healthy, their personal risk of stroke and much more.