Local woman's heart health legacy continues posthumously

Fatima’s Heart bringing heart health to Niagara mothers

Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative Press Release and Logo

Fatima’s Heart, inspired by Fatima Mathews of Strong Heart 2 Soul – a local advocate for heart health who passed away in 2024 – will provide free Preeclampsia Foundation cuff kits to Niagara County’s prenatal and postpartum women. In addition, cuff kit recipients are encouraged to attend free workshops, where they will find support, learn how and why to monitor their blood pressure, and participate in a range of activities designed to promote cardiac health, including walking, art, yoga, nutrition and meditation. 

As healthy eating is an essential component of cardiac health, participants will receive a bag of local food for each workshop attended. The program will also provide fitness equipment, such as activity trackers or sneakers to mothers in need. 

Workshops begin this week, and will be held twice monthly throughout 2025.

The project brings to life an important partnership between Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center’s P3 Center, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County’s Veggie Van, all of which have the health of the community as their primary mission.

Unless noted, workshops will be held at Niagara Falls Memorial’s Mary C. Dyster Women’s Pavilion (621 10th St., Hodge Building – third floor). For more information, contact Eileen Kineke, the project’s community health manager, at 716-278-4274. 

The schedule for the first few months is as follows:

• Thursday, Jan. 9, 4:30-6 p.m.: Intro to Fatima’s Heart/Cooking Demo
• Saturday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Healthy Heart Yoga
• Thursday, Feb. 13, 4:30-6 p.m.: Intro to Art for Healing
• Saturday, Feb. 22, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Healthy Heart Yoga
• Thursday, March 13, 4:30-6 p.m.: Getting Ready: Walking Supply Trip
• Saturday, March 22, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Spring Walk (Meet at NF Train Station)
• Thursday, April 10, 4:30-6 p.m.: Intro to Meditation
• Saturday, April 26, 9:30-11 a.m.: Walk with Us (Join the community at NF Train Station)