Maria Simon, a dedicated volunteer for our Go Red Por Tu Corazón outreach programs in southern California, has been named national spokesperson for the campaign. She has been a successful group fitness instructor for over 10 years and currently appears as a trainer on Univision’s new weight-loss program, “Dale Con Ganas,” from the creator of “The Biggest Loser” on NBC.

Go Red Por Tu Corazón empowers Latinas to join the Go Red For Women movement and Maria has been part of that effort since it began two years ago in Orange County. Her Zumba dance group has created excitement for fitness at many of our outreach events. She says her passion for fitness began as she realized the empowerment which came from understanding how she could help herself feel better, live healthier and be stronger. She is pictured, at left, with Patty Ledezma at a Zumba demonstration highlighting a recent GRPTC event.

As she explains on her website, she became overweight after the birth of her two children, “which took a physical, emotional and psychological toll on my wellbeing. I tried every diet in the book and a few I made up myself... nothing worked!  I spoke with doctors, trainers, counselors…and in the process I gained knowledge about how my body works and how it is connected to my mind and heart. After losing approximately 80 pounds, I began meeting many women in similar situations. I wanted to hug them and slap them, but mostly, I wanted to help them.”

Maria brings that same passion to the fight against heart disease. “This is a cause very close to my heart, figuratively and literally,” she explains. She lost her father and an aunt to heart disease, and other family members have been impacted. In her new role as national Go Red Por Tu Corazón spokesperson, Maria is sure to inspire Latinas to embrace the cause and make healthy lifestyle choices for themselves and their families.