Mere weeks after earning a bronze medal in the shadow of her mother's death, Olympian skater Joannie Rochette made a stop at the Ottawa Heart Insitute to launch a campaign hoping to educate women about heart disease.

An anonymous donor kicked off the foundation's contributions with $100,000.

Rochette won her bronze just four days after her mother, Therese, died suddenly of a heart attack. Therese had been complaining of shortness of breath and other problems prior to passing away, and also had a genetic link to heart disease that put her at greater risk.

The Ottawa Heart Institute notes that heart disease and stroke are the top cause of death for women -- it's not uncommon to be found in women as young as 30 -- and that symptoms are often more subtle than what are found in men. Symptoms include:

  • Unusual fatigue;
  • Trouble sleeping;
  • Indigestion;
  • Anxiety.

"Like everyone else, we were completely captivated by Joannie's character and poise in coping with the loss of her mother under some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable," stated Robert Roberts, President and CEO of the institute.

"By providing her voice and support to this cause, we in the medical community hope to make major inroads in reducing the impact of heart disease in women for years to come."