Women gathered to play football in formal dresses in the inaugural Red Dress Powder Puff football game at the Lakota East soccer stadium on the campus of Hopewell Junior School Nov. 17, 2012. The event was held to raise awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of women. In photo, Kate Marx, Mary Patten, Kim Barnard, Sarah Marko Proffitt, Jennifer Hauck, Amy Lang
Christi DePrisco and Michelle Shaw. Photo provided.
The inaugural Red Dress Powder Puff football game at the Lakota East soccer stadium on the campus of Hopewell Junior School this past Saturday brought in 43 attendees and raised roughly $500.
The event, which featured women playing football in formal dresses, was spearheaded by local heart disease survivor Michelle Shaw. Overall, the West Chester mother of three was happy with the turnout and hopes to raise more awareness and attract more people in 2013.
“The best part of the event is that we were able to raise awareness on heart disease and how one out of three women will be affected by heart disease in their lifetime,” Shaw said. “The Powder Puff Football event is just one way women can adjust their lifestyle to make a dramatic difference in their heart health.
“We plan on having another Red Dress Powder Puff Football game in 2013 and hope that we can double, if not triple attendees.”
Michelle Shaw has been told that due to heart disease that she wouldn’t be able to have children or live a long and healthy life. Now, the West Chester mother of three is spearheading a charity football game, which includes women playing in formal dresses, that is aimed to promote to support heart health. Photo provided.
In fact, when Shaw was born she was diagnosed with a murmur. Over the next first few weeks of her life, her lips and fingernail beds turned blue and was then diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, pulmonary stenosis and an atrial septal defect (ASD).
Since the ASD did not close on its own, open heart surgery was required and Shaw underwent a surgical procedure at age one.
“Over the years, I have endured many medical procedures to ensure that my heart was functioning at full capacity,” Shaw said. “I have been told that I would never have children and that I would not live a long healthy life.
“I have been fortunate to be surrounded by a group of doctors and family members who hold me accountable and consistently push me to be the person I am today. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I have three beautiful children and I intend to be a heart disease survivor for many years to come.”
Some information taken from story posted prior to the event
