Attendees stepped into the past to a Roaring 20s theme at the American Heart Association of Florida’s 2020 Go Red for Women event on Thursday, March 5th at the Circle Square Cultural Center.
There was lots of red, of course, on flapper dresses and neckties, on shawls and jewelry. Men wore dapper suits, and there were many feathers on headbands worn by women. Party-goers enjoyed an evening of dinner, dancing, a silent auction and live music by Left On Broadway, led by Olivia Mercado Ortiz. Proceeds benefitted the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement.
Kristina Donohue, Regional Director of the Marion County American Heart Association, said, “To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease and stroke as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red For Women. This is a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.”
The event also served as a dedication to Dr. Peter Chung for his lifelong work in cardiovascular care and for his commitment to ignite faith in others. Chung retired in February.
AdventHealth Ocala President and CEO Joe Johnson honored Dr. Chung’s achievements.
“There are many in this room who have one way or another been affected by this man’s work, his career—either as a patient or as a colleague. Others have caught his enthusiasm. I have been personally blessed by this man’s life and his on-going dedication to service,” Johnson said. “It is amazing to note what he has done. Have you ever tried changing a tire while driving down the interstate? That’s hard to do. But think about taking someone’s heart and fixing it while they’re still in the room. That’s amazing, that’s complex.”
Dr. David and Diana Lammermeier participate in the event annually.
“It’s a great cause, we enjoy it, we have fun. We like to dance,” Diana said.
“We like to dress up, too,” David added.
The Signature Sponsor of the Go Red for Women event was AdventHealth Ocala.
