Macey Wright received a new heart in 2016 and will be participating in Go Red for Women’s annual initiative to elevate awareness and inspire action.
Macey Wright is proof that heart disease can strike at any age. Born with two congenital heart defects, Wright began her life impacted by heart disease. Although she had heart valves that didn’t work properly, it didn’t stop Wright from living life to the fullest and pursuing hobbies like gymnastics. But at age 14, Wright’s heart was beyond repair and she was listed for a heart transplant which she received.
“I have intimate knowledge about the impact heart disease can have on someone,” shares Wright. “I am lucky to have benefited from scientific advances and treatments and I want the same opportunities to be available to all women. I plan to wear red to celebrate my journey, to elevate awareness among women about their largest health threat, and hopefully inspire someone to make a healthy change.”
The American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative, Go Red for Women®, urges everyone across the Puget Sound to join us in advocating for better health and well-being for all women.
Here in Washington the community can engage with the Go Red for Women movement on National Wear Red Day in the following ways:
- Wear red and share: add a touch of red to your outfit to raise awareness and inspire action to improve individual health and well-being. Share your support on social media using #WearRedDay, #WearRedAndGive, #GoRedforWomen and #goREDwa
- Make a donation to the American Heart Association: support the Go Red for Women movement through a Wear Red and Give donation at WearRedDay.org
- Join Research Goes Red: ensure women are represented in cardiovascular research through participation in Research Goes Red, an initiative to engage women in contributing to health research to accelerate understanding of how cardiovascular disease uniquely impacts women.
- Learn Hands-Only CPR: women are less likely to receive bystander CPR than men. Ensure more women get the immediate life-saving help that they need in an emergency by watching a 60-second video at GoRedforWomen.org.
- Support the Go Red for Women movement in stores:
- The Big Lots Foundation, a National Go Red for Women supporter, is matching donations (up to $500,000 total) made on heart.org and GoRedforWomen.org for the entire month of February. Additionally, Big Lots stores are helping customers “go red” by offering a Red Dress pin for donations of $3 or more, while supplies last, as part of their national Life is WhyTM campaign, the Association’s point-of-sale giving campaign.
- CVS Health will offer their customers an opportunity to give at the register throughout the month of February in addition to supporting year-round research, education and access to care that improves women’s cardiovascular health, including initiatives aimed at addressing the maternal heart health crisis and reducing hypertension rates.
- Blue Heron Jewelry in Poulsbo will collect donations for the American Heart Association at the register from Feb. 1 – Feb. 15 as part of their Life is WhyTM campaign.
The need to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke among women is clear as nearly 45% of women over age 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is also the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S., or more simply put, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms. The good news is, heart disease and stroke are largely preventable through healthy lifestyle choices and management of risk factors.
“I will wear red to join the sisterhood of women taking action to raise awareness of our No. 1 killer,” said Lee McGrath, chairperson, 2025 Puget Sound Go Red for Women movement and executive vice president of health care services at Premera Blue Cross. “We are working to ensure that women across Washington feel supported in their pursuit of better cardiovascular health and that every woman has equal opportunities to live longer, healthier lives.”
Find educational resources to support women’s heart and brain health at every age, through every stage of life at GoRedforWomen.org and learn more about National Wear Red Day at WearRedDay.org. Go Red for Women is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and locally supported by Optum Care Washington, Premera Blue Cross, MultiCare Health System and Cambia Health Foundation.