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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD Luz Perez admitted that for a year after her father suffered a debilitating stroke in December 2004, she was "very angry." The stroke left her father bed-ridden and in need of constant care. The health event devastated her family. "Life will never be the same," she said. "I was very angry for a year and then I redirected my anger," she explained to Reminder Publications. She knew she couldn't change what had happened to her father, but she could try to help others. Turning anger into action Perez is hosting a benefit called "Slammin' to End Stoke" to help the American Stroke Association on March 24 at the Springfield Sheraton. The evening will feature Perez performing some of her poetry, as well as information about stroke. There will be also music and dancing. The program will begin at 8 p.m. and the cost will be $10. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 433-0681 or 563-1702. The American Stroke Association reports on its web site that: About 700,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. That means, on average, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds. Stroke kills nearly 157,000 people a year. That's about one of every 15 deaths. It's the number three cause of death behind diseases of the heart and cancer. About every three minutes someone dies of stroke. Of every five deaths from stroke, two occur in men and three in women. The 2003 stroke death rates per 100,000 population for specific groups were 51.9 for white males, 50.5 for white females, 78.8 for black males and 69.1 for black females. Americans will pay about $57.9 billion in 2006 for stroke-related medical costs and disability. Poetry with a purpose Perez is a Springfield native and the principal at the Maurice A. Donahue School in Holyoke. She has been writing poetry for the past ten years and her program will include the performance of four poems including one dedicated to her father entitled "My Hero." The program will also include a salsa dance lesson. Perez's father was well known in the Latino community as a dancer, Perez said, and that exercise is one measure to help prevent stroke. She said the purpose of the evening was to "deliver a serious message in a creative and entertaining way." |