Star Jones is key guest for Go Red for Women

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JOHN SYKES JR - HIGH PROFILE VOLUNTEER - Elizabeth Banko.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JOHN SYKES JR - HIGH PROFILE VOLUNTEER - Elizabeth Banko.

Elizabeth Banko knew her mother was in danger. Banko was a teenager, but her volunteer work as a candy striper at St. John's Hospital in New York gave her just enough experience to see the signs.

"I recognized that she was having a heart attack, and she'd been having a heart attack for a couple of days." Banko pulled her mother from her bedroom and drove her to the hospital, though she didn't have a driver's license.

Flash-forward a few decades. That same sense of purpose, of life-saving urgency, impels her volunteering as the chairman of the 11th Go Red for Women Luncheon, the Central Arkansas American Heart Association's third big annual fundraiser behind the Heart Ball and Heart Walk.

Her mother had multiple heart attacks before the age of 50. Her maternal grandfather died at age 62 of a heart attack. Her father's health failed due to heart disease. With that family history and an experience that she says "was very much drilled into my brain," the cause of educating the public, and particularly women, about the risks and symptoms of heart disease is one she feels strongly about.

Banko has been involved in the Arkansas chapter since moving to Little Rock eight years ago, when her husband, Peter, became CEO of CHI St. Vincent. This is her first year to serve as chairman for Go Red for Women.

Of the estimated 43 million women in the nation who have heart disease, many are unaware of it, the association warns. Go Red is a year-long effort, including Heart Month (February) and the traveling Central Arkansas Survivors Gallery, which shows the impact of heart disease. But the Go Red for Women Luncheon on Thursday is the main event of the Go Red year.

For the luncheon, Banko says, her hope is to save at least one woman's life through the information passed on at the event. "Because, the statistics in America, in two days' time, everyone in the room could be dead. That's how many women die of heart disease. That's a lot of families affected. A lot of kids looking for their moms."

To help drive the message home, Banko says, "My goal this year was to re-energize the luncheon and to really bring a new spirit into it."

Part of that re-energizing was finding a celebrity speaker for the first time: former The View co-host, legal analyst and author Star Jones.

She is, Banko says, a perfect fit. Heart disease symptoms are different for women than for men.

"She was a woman with a great education, great resources, and she still ignored -- as we all do, really -- her signs of heart disease."

Jones was diagnosed and had open heart surgery in 2010 and has been a volunteer with AHA since. According to AHA statistics (goredforwomen.org), black women have an even higher risk of undiagnosed heart disease -- 49 percent of black women ages 20 and older have heart disease. Most are unaware of it.

Premium ticketholders ($500 each) can meet Jones before the luncheon, 10:45-11:30 a.m.

"I am pumped to see Star speak. I'm resting the luncheon in her hands. I know she's going to be fabulous and fun and I can't wait to show her how wonderful Arkansas is and all the women here."

A big-name speaker isn't the only way Banko has transformed the luncheon. Organizers have introduced something that has been successfully implemented by the Northwest Arkansas affiliate: a women's expo. There will be vendors with products on everything from skin care to blood pressure monitoring, with CHI St. Vincent staff on hand to help educate women about identifying symptoms and triggers of heart disease. There will also be representatives from the Parks and Recreation Department.

Exercise is key to treating and preventing heart disease, and the system of parks and trails is healthy, handy and free.

"I'm really excited because part of the barrier to health care is affordability," she says. "If you've lived in any other state, you know how beautiful our parks and recreation system is."

There will, of course, be the traditional auction. This year's items include a $2,500 gift certificate to Cache Restaurant, plus a limo ride.

This year's lunch, too, has been redesigned to have something healthy for everyone, right down to the dessert. That has not always been the case at Go Red luncheons.

In addition to educating women about heart health, the luncheon and the Go Red movement are also intended to raise research money. Banko points out that hundreds of thousands of dollars come into the state every year for heart research. Pacemakers and stents, which have saved countless lives, were invented thanks to relatively small grants.

"These are important dollars we're raising. This research will save the lives of our children."

It has already saved the life of Banko's mother. After her series of heart attacks, she lost a significant amount of weight and is finally off all her medication for heart disease and diabetes.

Banko hopes women will gain the knowledge they need to save themselves and their loved ones. And, just as importantly, to learn that they deserve the care and attention they need. Attendees will be given special stickers to remind them to take care of themselves and pay attention to their bodies.

"I really believe that at least one woman in that audience can be saved from a massive heart attack if they just recognize what their symptoms are and they seek out the available care," Banko says. "This community has all the resources anybody could possibly need. They just need to feel confident enough and realize they're worth asking for them."

The Go Red for Women Luncheon is Thursday in the Little Rock Marriott Grand Ballroom. The auction and expo start at 10 a.m. and the luncheon is at noon. Tickets are $125, $500 for premium tickets. Call (501) 707-6584 or visit centralargored.heart.org.

High Profile on 05/03/2015

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