Go Red For Women Holds Nationwide Casting Call to Find the 'Heart of Go Red'

Go Red For Women Holds Nationwide Casting Call to Find the 'Heart of Go Red'

Marie Osmond invites America's real women to share their stories of heart disease

DALLAS, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For every heart, there is a story -- and the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement wants to hear yours. On Feb. 1, which is National Wear Red Day, survivors, family members, friends and heart health professionals can join Marie Osmond, who lost her mother, father and grandmother to heart disease, at the first-ever National Casting Call event in New York City. Participants have a chance to become the official "Heart of Go Red" and represent the movement in 2008-2009 and possibly appear in a television special on women and heart disease. Go Red For Women's nationwide tour includes casting calls in numerous cities, and stories will be accepted at http://www.goredforwomen.org/ starting Feb. 1.

"I have joined the Go Red For Women movement because I can speak from 'the heart' about my own family's experience with cardiovascular disease," said Marie Osmond, spokesperson for the Go Red For Women movement. "I hope all women will participate with me in making positive lifestyle changes that have significant impact on our heart health. I believe when women share their stories of health choices, struggles and success they not only help each other, they ultimately strengthen their families and communities by living longer, stronger, healthier lives."

The Importance of Heart Disease Awareness and Personal Risk Assessment

"Many women remain unaware that heart disease is their No. 1 killer, even though more than 42 million American women are living with one or more types of cardiovascular disease," said Nieca Goldberg, M.D., Go Red For Women spokesperson, author and medical director of the New York University Women's Heart Program. "According to the most recent data, cardiovascular disease caused approximately one death per minute among females. That is why the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement seeks to build awareness of this deadly disease and challenge women to take action to reduce their personal risk."

Alarming heart health statistics include:
-- One in three women has some form of cardiovascular disease.
-- Cardiovascular disease kills approximately 460,000 women per year.

-- More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including cancer.

Casting Call Information

The New York City event will be held at The Shops at Columbus Circle -- Time Warner Center, on the 2nd floor. Participants at the event will be screened from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST on Feb. 1. Highlights will include:

-- Appearance by Marie Osmond, Go Red For Women celebrity spokesperson

-- Free Cardiovascular Health Screening by Merck & Co., allowing women to know their values and assess their own risk of cardiovascular disease

-- Macy's fashion consultant advising women on how to Go Red with the latest fashion accessories and style tips

-- Opportunity to join the Go Red For Women movement and take the Go Red Heart CheckUp

-- Giveaways and more!

In addition to the national event in New York, local Go Red For Women casting calls will be hosted in more than 20 other cities across the country. For more details, go to www.GoRedForWomen.org.

National Wear Red Day -- Feb. 1, 2008

In addition to the casting call, there are countless opportunities for women to show support for the Go Red For Women movement. Feb. 1, 2008 is National Wear Red Day. On this day, the American Heart Association encourages women to wear red -- whether it is a red dress, a red t-shirt, a red dress pin or red lipstick -- to show the world they passionately support Go Red For Women, the movement to improve women's heart health and save lives.

Go Red Heart CheckUp

This year, Go Red For Women is challenging one million women to understand their heart disease risk and take the Go Red Heart CheckUp at www.GoRedForWomen.org. This important tool forecasts a woman's 10-year risk for heart disease and provides a personalized action plan to help women reduce their risk. Go Red wants women to know their numbers and track their blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and weight and keep them in a healthy range. For more information about the Go Red Heart CheckUp, Go Red For Women or American Heart Month, visit www.GoRedForWomen.org.

About Go Red For Women

Since 2004, Go Red For Women has captured the energy, passion and intelligence of women to work collectively to wipe out heart disease -- the No. 1 killer of women. We want millions of women across America to take heart disease personally. Using the platform "Love Your Heart," Go Red For Women engages women and the men who love them to embrace the cause. Healthcare providers, celebrities and politicians also elevate the cause and spread the word about women and heart disease. For more information about Go Red For Women, please call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278) or visit GoRedForWomen.org. The movement is nationally sponsored by Macy's and Merck & Co., Inc.

About the American Heart Association

Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2006-07 the association invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: American Heart Association

CONTACT: Megan Lozito of the American Heart Association,
+1-214-706-1359, Megan.lozito@heart.org; or Allie Mellentine, +1-312-240-2646,
Allie.mellentine@edelman.com, for the American Heart Association

Web Site:

http://www.americanheart.org/
http://www.goredforwomen.org/

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