MODESTO, Calif. – Popular television personality Cheryl Burke (“Dancing with the Stars”) will be a featured speaker at two Glow Red events held on Feb. 3 by Doctors Medical Center and Emanuel Medical Center to raise awareness of heart disease – the leading killer of women in America.

Burke, a Bay Area native, will tell her own personal story about performing on the hit ABC television show, and creating and producing her own live stage show Love on the Floor. She will also speak about the need for women to exercise regularly to maintain heart health.

“Cheryl Burke is not only an inspiration to women through her brilliant television performances and appearances, she also carries an important message about how women can help protect themselves against cardiovascular diseases and stroke,” said Cheryl Harless, Chief Nursing Officer of Doctors Medical Center. “Doctors Medical Center and Emanuel Medical Center are both committed to offering high-quality, potentially life-saving cardiac care to our communities and supporting the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign.”

“In addition to being inspired by Cheryl Burke, women who come to the Emanuel Medical Center luncheon will also have the opportunity to learn hands-only CPR, which can save a life, as well as have their blood pressure checked and take a cardiac risk-assessment test to better understand their own heart health,” said Sue Micheletti, CEO of Emanuel Medical Center. “Cardiovascular diseases and stroke cause one in three women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. Emanuel has done a lot to bring life-saving cardiac care to Turlock to help improve those statistics.”

Details of the events, which will kick off both hospitals’ celebration of American Heart Month, are as follows:

• The Doctors Medical Center Glow Red breakfast will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 at The Century at 927 10th Street in Modesto. Call (855) 327-2225 for tickets.
• The Emanuel Medical Center Glow Red luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 at the Assyrian American Civic Club at 2618 North Golden State Blvd. in Turlock. Call (888) 545-6979 for tickets.

Tickets for both events are $30 each or a reserved table for 10 for $300 and all proceeds will be donated to the American Heart Association. The deadline to buy tickets is Jan. 25. Women who attend are encouraged to show their support by wearing their favorite red outfit and/or accessories.

According to the American Heart Association:

• An estimated 44 million women in the United States are affected by cardiovascular diseases
• About 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease or stroke
• Women have a higher lifetime risk of stroke than men
• About 80 percent of heart disease and stroke events may be prevented by lifestyle changes and education
• Fewer women than men survive their first heart attack
• The symptoms of heart attack can be different in women and men, and are often misunderstood – even by some physicians