‘Golf Is Where the Heart Is’ benefit March 31 helps fight heart disease

Golfers have the opportunity to play a round a golf and help save lives during the annual “Golf is Where the Heart Is” tournament to benefit the Women’s Heart Center at Banner Hospital. This annual event will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 31, at Leisure World Country Club, 1548 Leisure World in Mesa, Arizona.

This year’s tournament includes mixed flights for singles or groups. Since 2008, organizers of this tournament have successfully raised more than $63,000 with all proceeds from each tournament benefitting the Women’s Heart Center. The newly expanded center provides education, information and preventative screenings to assist women in making healthy decisions in their lives, and helps to reduce deaths caused by heart disease.

Valley resident and golfer Carol Peterson was so impressed by the care she received at Banner Heart after suffering a heart attack, that she decided to take her fight against heart disease to the golf course and organized this tournament to help other women.

Peterson says, “Who takes care of the kids when they get sick? Mom does. Who takes care of the dad, the husband? Mom does. Who takes care of his or her parents and the family pet? Mom does. So who is taking care of Mom?”

Since women are accustomed to being caregivers, they tend to dismiss their own symptoms and take longer to seek medical attention. The Women’s Heart Center hopes to raise awareness of heart disease in women of all ages. Peterson’s mission is to make sure women have all the information they need and that’s why she does this tournament every year.

Registration is $135 and $50 of that is tax deductable. To register, contact Louise Daggs at 480.807.0935. For more information, call the Women’s Heart Center at 480.321.4YOU (4968).