Each year on September 29 World Heart Day encourages people to be heart healthy with the world s biggest platform for raising awareness about cardiovascular disease CVD . In observance of the day this year the American Heart Association AHA the world s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke is honoring 11 women who are sharing their stories to inspire others as part of the 2017 Go Red For Women class of Real Women who represent a sisterhood of survivors who actively urgently and passionately participate in the movement to raise awareness of the issues connecting women and heart diseases and stroke. As the often surprising faces of heart disease they are sharing their powerful stories to inspire others through the changes they ve made to improve their own health AHA September 27 2017 .