Go Red For Women Mobilizes Women to Join Cause, Fight Heart Disease

Go Red For Women Mobilizes Women to Join Cause, Fight Heart Disease

DALLAS, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of Americans will help women fight heart disease when they participate in the second year of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women initiative, as it gears up again in February.

Go Red For Women began in February 2004 to raise awareness that heart disease is women's No. 1 killer. The grassroots campaign has since grown into a vibrant national movement as more women, men, celebrities, healthcare providers and politicians embrace and elevate the cause of women and heart disease.

The campaign provides women tips and information on healthy eating, exercise, and risk factor reduction, such as smoking cessation, weight maintenance, blood pressure control and blood cholesterol management.

"Last year, we discovered an alarming fact -- that women still don't know heart disease is their No. 1 killer," said Alice Jacobs, M.D., president of the American Heart Association. "In fact, more women still believe that cancer is the greatest health problem facing them today. Go Red For Women is beginning to change that."

Sponsored proudly by national sponsors Macy's and Pfizer, with additional support from the PacifiCare Foundation and Bayer Aspirin, the American Heart Association's activities in February include:

* National Wear Red Day. A national observance created by the American
Heart Association, on Feb. 4, thousands of people, including employees
at more than 3,000 companies, national and local news anchors and
talk-show hosts will wear red to support the cause. The red dress and
the color red are symbols for women and heart disease and the American
Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement.
* National landmarks and monuments. National and local landmarks --
including the Seattle Space Needle, Niagara Falls, the Empire State
Building, Graceland and more -- will be illuminated in red during
February, American Heart Month to further raise awareness of women and
heart disease.
* The Red Dress Pin -- Get One. Give One. Thousands have already added
the red dress pin to their fashion accessory collection to support the
women and heart disease movement. This year, women are urged to get
two free red dress pins -- one to wear and one to share with someone
they care about. You can get the pins by calling 1-888-MY-HEART.
* National Celebrity Spokesperson. Grammy award-winning R&B vocalist
Toni Braxton, among several celebrities involved in Go Red For Women,
is the national spokeswoman in 2005. "I am so pleased to be joining
Go Red For Women, not only because heart disease has touched me
personally, but also because I can assist in taking the message to the
thousands of women who don't know that heart disease is their No. 1
health risk," she said.
* Red Dress Statue Collection. More than 20 celebrities in fashion,
music, food, television, film and sports have inspired a unique
collection of custom-designed statues depicting the Go Red For Women
red dress icon. The statues will be unveiled on Feb. 3, at Radio City
Music Hall. The celebrities include Bill Cosby, Antonio Banderas,
Melanie Griffith, Jamie Lee Curtis, Daisy Fuentes, Jane Pauley,
Univision TV personality Teresa Rodriguez, designers Carolina Herrera
and TV chefs Rachel Ray and Sara Moulton.
* Shop With Heart at ShopGoRed.com. This February, with the launch of
the Go Red For Women Online Store, consumers can get important health
information as well as shop for fun products that benefit the American
Heart Association. The site offers a brand new rhinestone red dress
pin as well as hats, bags, scarves and even a men's tie. The site is
the only source of official Go Red For Women merchandise from the
American Heart Association.
* Shop For A Great Cause. There are many products "benefiting" the
American Heart Association from Day-Timers, Le Mystere lingerie,
Perfumania, Brighton, Swarovski Crystal and more. These products, on
sale through February and beyond (in some cases), are also linked to at
http://www.shopgored.com/ .
* The scientific community joins the movement. At a news conference on
Feb. 1, the American Heart Association will release new scientific
statements on women and heart disease as well as a new study on what
physicians and consumers are doing (or not doing) to reduce their
risks.



Anyone can join Go Red For Women by calling 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278) or visiting http://www.americanheart.org/ .

About the American Heart Association

Since 1924 the American Heart Association has helped protect people of all ages and ethnicities from the ravages of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, the nation's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and other cardiovascular diseases, claim nearly a million American lives a year. The association invested more than $439 million in fiscal year 2003-04 for research, professional and public education, and advocacy so people across America learn what they can do to reduce their risk and live stronger, longer lives.


Source: American Heart Association

CONTACT: Kristen Goldberg, +1-617-227-2111; or Malinda Mason Miller of
American Heart Association, +1-214-706-1644

Web site: http://www.americanheart.org/
http://www.shopgored.com/


-------
Profile: intent