Luncheon targets women’s health

Photo by Alison James
Last year’s Go Red Luncheon attendees, enjoying their lunch.

For Foster Grandparents of Russellville and other interested attendees, an upcoming luncheon will target a health topic some women might not often think about: heart disease.

The Go Red for Women Luncheon, which is being held again after last year’s successful program, is set for Feb. 2 and is hosted jointly by the Foster Grandparent Program of Russellville and the Franklin County Cooperative Extension.

“We want to raise awareness,” explained Extension Coordinator Katernia Cole-Coffey. “Many people think that heart disease is a man’s disease, but heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women.One in three women die of heart disease each year.”

The Extension, Cole-Coffey said, tries to partner with many local agencies to help spread the word about different issues and make communities more aware. “There is an added value in working with other organizations,” she said. “We also partner with the Foster Grandparent Program for the Annual Health Fair.”

The 2017 Go Red luncheon will be held at the A.W. Todd Centre, with health screenings from 9:45-11:15 a.m. and the program beginning at 11:30 a.m. Guest speaker will once again by Dr. Jeffrey Chenyi of Chenyi Family Medicine in Russellville.

Chenyi earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Cameroon’s University of Bueu and MD degree from St. Martinus University School of Medicine on the Caribbean island

Of Curacao. His United States medical training includes hospitals in Baltimore and Chicago.

Of course, one element of the luncheon shouldn’t go overlooked, and it’s right there in the program name.

“We want people to wear red to show their support for saving women’s lives,” Cole-Coffey said. “It signifies the fight against the No. 1  killer in women, and it is the color of our hearts.

RSVPs should be made by calling 256-332-8880 or 256-332-6800 by Jan. 30.