Redskins Vets Health Screening

On Saturday, November 13th, in recognition of Veterans Day, the Washington Redskins, the American Heart Association and other health and wellness partner organization hosted a unique screening and education event in the Redskins team locker room ( ! ) at FedEx Field to encourage men and women military veterans to be proactive about their health.

As a spokesperson for the American Heart Association, I worked the AHA booth.

As a spokesperson for the American Heart Association, I worked the AHA booth

The event was geared towards veterans to celebrate Veteran’s Day which occurred earlier in the week. The event was free for vets and their families as well as families and friends of active service members.

I shared vital information about a variety of health issues and conditions – like the “Go Red For Women!”, “Power to End Stroke”, “Alliance for a Healthier Generation” and other American Heart Association information.

We had games for the kids, snacks and refreshments, and it was a great opportunity for pictures of the locker room and FedExField!

Many other organizations like GlaxoSmithKline, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, the Physician’s Assistant Association, and many others had a strong presence at the event.

My own Congresswoman, Donna F. Edwards, also showed her support for our veterans and armed forces at the event. She shared her own story about encountering heart disease, which shows, yet again, that heart disease doesn’t discriminate. No matter your age, race, culture, size, habits, ancestry or socioeconomic status, heart disease can affect you.

The participant turn out was fabulous – hundreds of veterans, their families, friends and neighbors came out to FedEx Field to get their blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol levels, and other factors that affect heart disease and health as a whole checked free of charge.

They also had the opportunity to take home vital information about a variety of health issues and conditions – like the “Go Red For Women!”, “Power to End Stroke”, “Alliance for a Healthier Generation” and general American Heart Association information that I gave out!

The fabulous Mrs. Northeast International, Deanna Linz, was also there to lend a hand for the AHA and we had a blast meeting people, sharing our stories, listening to participant’s experiences, and doing our best to get the word out about Heart Health and the International pageant system.

Mrs. Northeast International, Deanna Linz, and I spent the day serving the American Heart Association's mission and promoting the International Pageant System.

I will admit that we had pizza for lunch, but being heart healthy doesn’t mean being limited – it means being balanced. The ability to maintain a heart healthy lifestyle starts with ditching “diets” and the “all or nothing” idea and focusing on balance and moderation.

Juliana McKee