When one learns of all that Becky Ringen has accomplished in her relatively young life, one could easily surmise that she is a gal with, well, heart. Ironically enough, she now makes a career out of helping others take care of their own hearts.
Besides being an exemplary student, a remarkable athlete, a youth leader at her church, an assistant coach for an adapted soccer team, and a gal with strong ties to her hometown (she was a Maple Grove Ambassador in 2001, Miss Maple Grove in 2005, Miss Maple Grove International in 2005, and Miss Minnesota International in 2006), Becky has always had a cause for which she believes in: the American Heart Association (AHA).
“My family has been volunteering with AHA for many years,” says Ringen. “My grandfather died of a sudden cardiac arrest when my mother was 8; he left nine children behind for my grandma to raise. My extended family (aunts and uncles) and my family have been involved ever since.”
And so when an opening in the corporate events department at AHA became available four years ago--and Ringen is working to complete her Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from Bethel University--her family encouraged her to apply.
“I was blessed to be selected,” says Ringen. “I’ve been there ever since.”
In the perfect marriage of passion and vocation, Ringen began getting the message out about the importance of heart health; one of her roles within AHA is director of the Twin Cities Heart Walk.
Another one of the places Becky is helping to get the message out loud and clear is at The Shoppes of Arbor Lakes, with the national Go Red for Women campaign. This fortuitous partnership came about after Jennifer Zafft, marketing director for The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, and Ringen put their heads together and thought of how best they could reach women.
“This is our third year participating in the event,” says Zafft. “We just really want to help with this mission because we know it is very important for our shoppers.”
The two had crossed paths a while back when Ringen worked at the Banana Republic at The Shoppes, and as a Maple Grove Ambassador when she participated in several events there.
“Heart disease is the number one killer, and affects one in three women,” says Ringen, who knows the statistics and details like the back of her hand. “So we thought that if we could reach out to women where they are, and give them the information, it would go a long way to empowering them to take control of their heart health and help wipe out heart disease.”
During the entire month of February at The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, shop windows are decked out in red, employees wear red on the National Wear Red Day (February 3), Pittsburgh Blue and other participating restaurants offer heart-healthy foods and recipes, and at the cash wrap of some stores will be stacks of “1 in 3 Not Me!” bookmarks and leaflets that will inform women on how to learn their risk of developing heart disease.
And, several participating stores will be offering month-long specials.
“I know first-hand the effects heart disease has on a family and work to help other families not suffer those same effects,” says Ringen. “Losing both my grandpas and my grandma, my hero, to heart disease has increased my motivation to raise awareness. Heart disease is 80 percent preventable, and I hope that every time this message is shared, a life is saved.”
