Leah Hazelwood Goes Red for Women’s Health
By Guest Blogger Aine Concepcion, American Heart Association
“I go red for my family, the health of my employees and myself,” shared Leah Hazelwood. Leah is vice president of Go-Forth Pest Control and chair of the Guilford Go Red for Women campaign. “In a matter of seven years, I lost my father and several grandparents, prematurely, due to heart conditions. This makes me personally passionate about educating our community about the power we have to live longer, healthier lives, with preventative lifestyle choices,” said Leah.
About Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States. It claims more women’s lives than all forms of cancer combined. Nearly 60 percent of all stroke deaths are women. However, the good news is that heart disease and stroke are largely preventable through education and healthy lifestyle changes. Those changes include knowing your vital health numbers, moving more, eating smarter and managing blood pressure. Empowering women to make changes to prevent cardiovascular disease leads to more precious memories with our mothers, sisters, daughters and friends.
Go Red for Women Campaign
The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign is a year-round movement. It is focused on awareness, prevention education, risk factor reduction, and healthy behavioral changes. In Guilford County, Go Red for Women is supporting nutrition security, blood pressure control and workplace wellness programs. These help to create healthy habits which give women the best chance at life.
Why Companies Go Red
Leah also goes red because of her employees. “During the pandemic, we surveyed our team here at Go-Forth Pest Control and discovered they were very interested in a wellness program at work. We were also looking for new ways to support and engage with our workforce to help with the recruitment and retention challenges of today’s economy. We’ve worked hard to develop a wellness culture. We provide programs and resources, and integrate mental and physical health support into our employee practices. It’s a project we are very proud of. Through these efforts, we’ve seen the positive impacts on our employees that spread throughout NC, SC and VA. People spend the majority of their day at work. Not only are we making healthy habits easier to maintain at work, but we’ve seen employees directly benefit from the education and access to resources when faced with a cardiovascular event,” shared Leah.
Through a Workplace Wellness Webinar series, Go-Forth Pest Control is also helping other companies. In and around the Triad, they are helping build workplace wellness programs to help employees benefit from this heart healthy support and encouragement.
“I am so very honored to be leading the Guilford Go Red for Women campaign this year along with our Executive Leadership Team. I’m excited Go-Forth Pest Control is partnering with individuals and companies in Guilford County. We are working to support education on the importance of preventative healthy lifestyle choices, wellness in the workplace, and CPR training,” Leah shared.
Local Luncheon
The Guilford Go Red for Women Luncheon will take place in just two months. It will include a fun purse-onality auction, inspirational women speakers, a celebration of women’s health successes, and more. Mark your calendar for May 6, 2022 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro.
To support or attend the Guilford Go Red for Women Luncheon or an upcoming Wellness at Work Webinar, contact TriadNC@heart.org for more information.
Website: ahagreensboro.ejoinme.org
Facebook: @AHANorthCarolina
Twitter: @AmericanHeartNC
Instagram: @AmericanHeartNC
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