Go Red For Women - Red Dress Collection 2015

2014-2015 REAL WOMEN
RED is eye-catching.  RED is confidence.  RED is a symbol.

(New York, NY) - "1 out of 3 women die from cardiovascular disease and stroke, but yet it is 80% preventable." That's actually a heartbreaking statistic when you think about all the mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, nieces, cousins and friends that could have spent more time with their loved ones but a disease that is 80% preventable took their lives early.  Thankfully, there are many individuals and organizations that are standing up and fighting for the lives of women who are threatened by what was once known as a "man's disease."

February is American Heart Month and will be the month that many women will learn information that will potentially save their lives. Nine of ten women have at least one one risk factor for developing heart disease but only about half are even aware the issue. It's also not just a disease of older or overweight people.  I have been shocked by the number of stories of young women under 40 who have been affected or killed by this disease in my own community.  Facts like these and much of what I have been reading has been a bit of a revelation to me and probably are to most people. So, during American Heart Month many, including the Go Red For Women “Real Women" pictured above, will work to educate and inspire women to become more aware and active in their heart health.


STOP! WATCH THE VIDEO. (video)

To help get this message out, the American Heart Association and The Heart Truth® campaign will once again present the Go Red For Women - Red Dress Collection in New York City during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.  This event has kicked off Fashion Week since 2003, with celebrities such as Toni Braxton, Jennie Garth and Felicity Huffman taking to the runway.  Each year several of the fashion world's most iconic designers participate to put their own vision to the now iconic red dress.  Zac PosenBadgley MischkaNicole MillerTadashi Shoji are just some of the top designers that have participated over the years. This year's Red Dress Collection show will happen Thursday, February 12 at Lincoln Center and is sponsored by Macy's who is a founding national sponsor of Go Red and has raised over 50 million dollars to help fund research and education credited by the American Heart Association with saving hundreds of lives every day.

Go Red For Women - The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection 2014 Show Made Possible By Macy's And SUBWAY Restaurants - Backstage

Unlike the typical New York Fashion Week runway show but much like the Strut: The Fashionable Mom's show I attended in 2012, the models are all smiles.  These celebrity models have fun, dance and pump up the crowd as they make their way down the runway in their iconic red dresses. Some of the models from the 2014 event included Giada De Laurentiis, Anika Noni Rose, a brave Lindsey Vonn on crutches, Kat Graham, Taryn Manning, Jill Martin, Gina Torres, Joan Van Ark, Nene Leakes, Ireland Baldwin, Bella Thorne and Joan Jett.  Why Red?  Red is confidence.  Red is power.  Red is a symbol and the color of our hearts.

WATCH THE 2014 SHOW. (video)



Now, of course, you don't have to be at Fashion Week to help raise awareness. Everyone is encouraged to organize or participate in awareness events wherever you are as different events will be going on across the country during the entire month.  One of the events people are encouraged to participate in is the National Wear Red Day Friday, February 6, 2015. Join the movement nationwide and honor the women in this fight and help save lives by bringing more and more awareness to this issue. Everyone can participate by wearing something red to show their support.  I'm sure I will have on my new, solid red tie I just purchased this month in honor of the day.  Additionally, you will find galas, karaoke fundraisers, parties and other events happening somewhere near you. So, check around or with your local American Heart Association chapter for ways to support.  You can follow the links at the bottom of this post for more info and to find your local AHA chapter.

The fight to stop this awful disease is also being fought in our schools and healthcare facilities.  To help combat what many see as one of the obstacles to all women being as engaged as possible in their health management, Macy’s and the American Heart Association are continuing their concerted efforts to increase the number of minority women in medical schools through the Go Red™ Multicultural Scholarship Fund.  For the fourth consecutive year, the partners are offering sixteen $2,500 tuition-focused scholarships for minority women pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in healthcare fields.  

Studies show that patients who receive culturally-sensitive care from doctors of the same background are more satisfied and engaged in their treatment.
Scholarship-recipients-2013-GRFW
Yet, while African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans comprise more than 26 percent of the U.S. population, they represent just 6 percent of practicing physicians, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).  However, I encourage everyone to be diligent in the pursuit of your optimal health and not let any obstacle stand in your way.

Women making their cardiovascular health their top health concern is the reason for all these beautiful red dresses, parties and programs.  The goal is to ultimately all but eliminate the percentage of deaths of women from this largely preventable disease.  However, all these efforts are in vain if the women reading this post and others like you don't stop and take the time to investigate their health and act aggressively on anything found that could potentially take them away from their families and friends.  Act now to save yourself and someone you love.  Find a way to show your support and raise awareness.  It can be a simple as wearing a red dress.

Here are some helpful links if you want to know more:

Meet the 2015 Class of Real Women


American Heart Month


National Wear Red Day 2015


Go Red Multicultural Scholarship Fund

The American Heart Association


The Heart Truth Campaign

Macy's Go Red For Women

Macy's Wear Red Sale

Comments

  1. Red is a traditional, elegant color. Red dresses can be worn to everyday events, for a fun touch at work, a romantic feel at a picnic, a funky party dress, to special occasions & more. Red is always in style, unlike some colours there is no "best time of the year" to buy red. Most retailers from designer labels to department stores will always have red options.

    Source: Fashion women's clothing online

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