No passport is necessary to reach a life-changing destination this month: All you need is a ticket to the 58th Annual Heart and Stroke Ball — “Destination Heart” on Feb. 28.
The longest-running heart ball in the nation has adopted a world-travel theme this year in an effort to raise more than $500,000 to fund life-saving research and provide education and advocacy about heart disease and stroke in Southern Arizona.
“We want people to understand that heart disease and stroke are very serious conditions in our country. In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, more than breast cancer or any other cancer. Sometimes people think about heart attacks affecting men more than women, but heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women,” said Lynne Wood Dusenberry, co-chair of the event with her husband, Bruce Dusenberry.
The Dusenberrys, long-time supporters of the American Heart Association, also hope to raise the public profile of stroke, which is the number four killer of Americans and the number one cause of disability in the United States.
“We know that the risk factors for heart disease and stroke are very similar. The research and preventive care is the same for both, so we are fighting a similar battle and we want to make sure to elevate that awareness as much as possible,” said Betsy Stuetze, executive director of the Western States Affiliate of the American Heart Association.
In light of the prevalence of heart disease and stroke, the heart association affiliate provides an array of services, education and resources: last year it educated more than 77,000 elementary and middle school students on the importance of proper diet and physical activity to remain heart healthy, provided CPR training and certification to 24,000 youth and adults, and funded more than $1.3 million in research to the University of Arizona.
“Last year we raised $850,000 and gifted more than 50 percent over that amount to the University of Arizona for research alone. That doesn’t quantify initiatives and research dollars that become stroke or cardiac certification programs that hospitals adopt to improve care and treatments for heart and stroke patients. Implementation of those programs in hospitals are not covered under research,” Stuetze said.
Lynne believes that it is vital to spread the word to garner support for these life-saving efforts and hopes that the Heart & Stroke Ball will assist in that endeavor.
“We want to make sure that people know that great research is being performed and great medicine is being practiced in Tucson,” she said.
The Dusenberrys drew on their love of travel in hopes of providing an unforgettable evening highlighting international flavors, sights and sounds.
While they enjoy world travel, the couple love coming home to Tucson, which they describe as unique for its lovely weather, majestic setting, great university and generous people.
“Coming back home is close to our hearts. The people are really special. We are very blessed with such a philanthropic community. We have people who really care about others and not just themselves,” Lynne said.
