Are you planning to Go Red?

Count to 38.....Okay, stop.  Someone just died from heart disease.

Shocking, isn't it?  That's why I support National Wear Red Day – a day geared towards wearing red in support of heart health awareness, especially for women.  This year, Wear Red Day falls on Friday, February 3rd, 2012.   

Consider these other staggering facts from the American Heart Association and the CDC:

• 81 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease.
  
• 1 in every 3 deaths is caused by heart disease and stroke.
• 47% of Americans have unhealthy cholesterol levels.
  
• In 2010, heart disease and stroke hospitalizations cost our country more than $444 billion in health care expenses and lost productivity.
  
• More women die from heart disease than all other forms of cancer combined.
  
• And perhaps most shocking:  About 80% of cardiac events could be prevented if we made the right choices about diet, exercise, and smoking.

Wow – those statistics still startle me.  Let’s make an effort to Go Red tomorrow to raise awareness of these numbers – and the fact that most could be prevented if we made healthier choices!  Wear your best red outfit on Friday, February 3rd and snap a picture of yourself.  Encourage your friends and coworkers to get involved too.  Post your picture to our facebook wall by Sunday, February 5th for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!  We will randomly draw a name for the gift card from all who post pictures.

And while you're posting, don’t forget to also submit your photos showcasing your efforts to the Go Red Facebook page.  The deadline to submit photos to their page is February 25th.  They will recognize submissions that have the most votes in the following categories:

• Most Spirited Office/Cube to Go Red
  
• Most Spirited News Anchor/Team to Go Red
  
• Most Spirited Go Red Group Photo
  
• Most Spirited Men in Red
  
• Most Spirited Fitness Enthusiasts to Go Red
  
• Most Spirited Building/Monument to Go Red
  
• Most Spirited School to Go Red
  
• Most Spirited Military Group to Go Red
  
• Most Spirited Pet to Go Red
  
• Most Spirited Church Group to Go Red
  
• Most Spirited Go Red Soap Opera/Telenovela 
  
• Most Spirited Go Red Song or Dance [video]
  
• Most Creative Go Red for Women Fundraiser

GO RED!