Go Red for Women: ‘Purse-onality’ event returns to Kennebunkport

KENNEBUNKPORT — The American Heart Association in Maine will hold its 8th annual Go Red for Women “Purse-onality” event on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport.

The event features a silent auction of more than 25 purse packages donated by local supporters. Each purse is hand-selected and filled with items and mementos that reflect the donors’ "purse-onality" such as work, hobbies or family interests.

Channel 8 WMTW Anchor Kathleen Jordan will emcee the event which will celebrate the Go Red for Women movement and help increase research of heart disease and stroke in women.  Dr. Brandei Wingard, a cardiologist at Northern Light Mercy Hospital, will present a short session on women’s heart health and will be on hand to answer questions from attendees.  Cardiovascular diseases, which includes stroke, claim the life of a woman about every 80 seconds. As the leading killer of women - claiming the lives of one in three women - cardiovascular diseases take more women’s lives than all cancers combined.

Denise Taddeo of Portland will share her life-changing experiences with both heart disease and stroke.

“Do not assume you are too young or too fit to have a heart problem. There are all sorts of reasons people have heart issues, particularly for women,” said Taddeo. “I am also committed to self-care. I firmly believe that I have made it this far by having a positive mental attitude, staying active and eating well. My advice? Be your own advocate, ask tough questions, pursue answers and find your village of medical practitioners and healers.”

This Go Red for Women event benefits the American Heart Association in Maine. Go Red for Women is sponsored nationally by CVS Health. The Purse-onality event is sponsored locally by Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation and Channel 8 WMTW.

Event tickets are $40. Visit: www.Heart.org/PurseonalityME or email [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Go Red for Women: ‘Purse-onality’ event returns to Kennebunkport