RealtyUSA, Breathing Room partner to raise awareness of heart disease
Despite a growing campaign for a healthier society, many often forget that heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of Americans, and stroke the No. 3 cause. Every year the American Heart Association tries to bring this fact to the forefront with a Go Red for Women campaign, which this year falls on Friday, Feb. 4.
Two local businesses are going beyond changing their garb, though, and are partnering to hopefully effect a greater change on the community. RealtyUSA on Delaware Avenue and The Breathing Room at the Four Corners have been working to increase awareness about the American Heart Association’s goals and to raise money for that organization. Both businesses are lighting up their Delmar locations red between Go Red Day and Valentine’s Day.
At the Breathing Room, which offers Yoga, meditation and energy healing classes, a week of classes focusing on heart health has been scheduled. Donations for the AHA will be collected, or a portion of the proceeds from the sessions will be contributed. The Breathing Room has gone red in the past and participated in an AHA walk.
We’re always trying to participate the best that we can. A lot of it is raising awareness, said owner Mikko Cook. `Every year we kind of build upon what it is.`
The classes have been advertised by RealtyUSA’s Virginia O’Brien, who has distributed door hang tags around the community that not only include the class times, but seven heart healthy tips promoted by the AHA.
O’Brien is a recent addition to the RealtyUSA team, and as a longtime Bethlehem resident she wanted to support a local cause.
`I really wanted to start becoming more involved in my community,` she said. `It’s also about supporting your local businesses and doing things that involve yourself in your community in really positive ways.`
Other members of the RealtyUSA team (Kathy Cooley, Cynthia Sobiecki and Sandra Tutshen) also helped with the campaign.
Breathing Room classes focus on the seven heart healthy tips, including a new workshop aimed at calming anxieties to quit smoking. The Breathing Room’s schedule can be found at theroomtobreathe.com.
Cook and O’Brien are hoping their desire to Go Red will rub off on others, who will support the AHA or take a greater interest in their own health.
`It’s just very relevant to everybody’s life,` said O’Brien. `Home is where the healthy heart is, and we want people to be sustainable in different ways.`
Other area buildings lighting up red include the SEFCU, CDPHP and First Niagara buildings in the Patroon Creek Corporate Park in Albany.“
