MANCHESTER – The American Heart Association in New Hampshire is offering a free, digital Heart Ball experience on May 25 from 4-5 p.m.

The Heart Ball is a celebration of the mission, passion, work, and life-changing and lifesaving achievements of the Association and its remarkable community of volunteer advocates, champions and leaders.

The program will feature heart-health education with a physician keynote speaker, a heart disease survivor who will share her story, and plenty of inspiration on how people can take charge of their health after a very challenging past year and present.

According to the Association, many people have missed routine exams, annual physical exams and important health screenings over the past year. Delayed checkups, combined with unhealthy habits picked up during the pandemic, are taking a physical and emotional toll on peoples’ well-being.

Dr. Jon Eddinger, staff cardiologist with Catholic Medical Center and long-time Association volunteer, will present “Doctor, It’s Been Too Long” as the event’s keynote speaker. “While it’s easy to overlook preventative care while living through a pandemic, primary and specialty doctor visits are an important way to protect your health,” said Eddinger. “This is especially true if you have top risk factors for severe COVID-19 complications like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity.”

Golda Black will share her story of suffering heart failure at age 30. A mom of three, she will share how doctors underestimated her condition because of her age and discovered that her heart was failing due to a rare genetic mutation. Black will conduct the “Open Your Heart” live appeal during the program.

“For me to keep living, everyone has to do their part – I have to exercise, eat well and stay healthy; my doctor has to provide excellent care; and scientists need to continue their research to develop the next advancement that will give me more time on this earth. This is why the American Heart Association’s research and funding are so critical,” said Black.

To register for this event, visit http://nhheartball.heart.org.

Newsletter