Never underestimate the power of a woman. And when women join together for a common cause, nobody else stands a chance.
Together, we’ve already made great strides against heart disease. Michaela Gagne, former Miss Massachusetts, remembers how amazing it was to see so many women take a stand to demand aggressive treatment, prevention and diagnosis the day she was lobbying Congress for the HEART Act. “They’re hearing us today. All our red. Our sea of red,” she said.
At 17 years old, Michaela was diagnosed with a heart condition, leaving her with a cardiac defibrillator implanted in her heart. Today, she urges women everywhere to contact their representatives and make a difference through the You’re the Cure network.
For all of these efforts, we applaud you. And we ask you to keep up the good fight. Because until we obliterate heart disease in women, there’s more work to be done.
How you can take action
If ever there’s a time to shout a little louder and demand change, it’s now. And the leaders on Capitol Hill need to hear your voice. Here’s how you can be a strong advocate to help us advance on a number of issues to improve heart health for women:
- WISEWOMAN, a Center for Disease Control and Prevention program, which provides free cardiovascular screening and lifestyle intervention services to low-income uninsured and underinsured women. Help us increase funding for this important program so it can be expanded to more women in more states.
- Health Equity and Accountability Act, federal legislation to help eliminate health inequities among minorities, women and other groups.
- Medicare and Medicaid, both of which disproportionately serve women.
These are just a few ways you can take action. Visit You’re the Cure to find other pressing policy issues just waiting for your powerful voice. Because together, we are a force to be reckoned with.
