Capera Ryan, managing director of the Southwest region of Christie’s Auction House and beloved lady-about-town, has an intimate relationship with heart disease: She lost her boyfriend this past year, her grandmother three years ago and her father at the age of 14 to the disease.
But Ryan has found a way to turn her tragedy into triumph by spreading awareness about this life-threatener as the co-chair of the eighth annual Go Red for Women Luncheon. The event supports the American Heart Association’s cardiovascular research.
“This is my way to honor these amazing people who touched my life so significantly,” Ryan says.
As a leader of the upcoming event — along with co-chair Barbara Smith, CFO and SVP of Commercial Metals Company — she hopes to educate women about how to live longer, healthier lives, as well as raise funds to support vital research targeting women and cardiovascular diseases.
“When I was asked to chair this luncheon, I felt like it was God’s way of giving me the opportunity to educate, raise money and make people aware of this killer so that other people don’t have to go through the loss I went through at a young age,” Ryan says.
Although heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, AHA is making great strides to reach its 2020 Impact Goal of improving heart health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent. This year, nearly $11 million was allocated for grants for cardiovascular research in Dallas.
“This is my way to honor these amazing people who touched my life so significantly; I would not be the person I am today without having been touched by such inspirational and amazing people,” Ryan adds. “This is the chapter ending and a new beginning.”
This year’s keynote speaker is former vice president Dick Cheney, who has first-hand experience battling cardiovascular disease; he survived five heart attacks and a heart transplant. He represents the group of men who also Go Red and support the fight against heart disease.
The Go Red for Women luncheon benefiting the Dallas division of the American Heart Association — the top division for the AHA nationally — is set for February 7, 2014, at the Hilton Anatole. Individual tickets and tables are available for purchase online.
Capera Ryan is the co-chair for the eighth annual Go Red for Women Luncheon benefiting the American Heart Association.
