The American Heart Association will host the Power to End Stroke Health Fair & Luncheon honoring the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 18 at Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel & Suites, 13th floor, 400 S. 14th St.
The goal of this event, according to organizers, is to increase awareness of the risk factors and warning signs of stroke in the African-American community. “The issue we are addressing is the lack of knowledge and care for the under- and uninsured population of the African-American community,” organizers stated.
This event also highlights one of the American Heart Association’s newest initiatives, Check. Change. Control. Check. Change. Control focuses on increasing physical activity, healthier eating, and better management of high blood pressure through education, tracking and coaching individuals to control their blood pressure.
A Health Fair will be held 8-11 a.m., offering important health information and free health screenings. A Luncheon Program will be held 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., with CPR training and musical guest Lady Tramaine Hawkins.
“I’ve been in the business now for more than 45 years and am very proud to be a gospel artist,” Hawkins told Essence last year. “I grew up in the church and started singing when I was four years old. I recorded my first album with The Heavenly Tones at 12. We were produced by the late, great Reverend James Cleveland. I’ve always believed I was born to sing and have a calling on my life to sing gospel music.”
Regarding singing gospel outside the confines of church, she said, “Sometimes you have to go where people are to show them the love of Jesus.”
Among many career honors, she was requested in 2005 to sing at the funeral service of civil rights activist Rosa Parks. Hawkins was also part of the Rosa Parks tribute recording “Something Inside So Strong” from A Celebration Of Quiet Strength featuring other gospel artists such as Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Daryl Coley.
Power To End Stroke is an education and awareness campaign that embraces and celebrates the culture, energy, creativity and lifestyles of African Americans. It unites African Americans to make an impact on the high incidence of stroke within their communities.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability in the United States and more than 100,000 African Americans have a new or recurrent stroke every year. African Americans are at higher risk for stroke compared to other ethnic groups. Compared to whites, blacks have almost twice the risk of first ever stroke.
To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit heart.org.
